矙 (kàn) - To look down from a height & to survey

矙Tone 4

kàn ｜ 24 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

矙 · kàn

To look down from a height;

to survey;

to gaze upon;

to overlook.

To look down from a heightto surveyto gaze upon

Usage highlights

To overlook from aboveTo gaze down uponTo survey the terrainTo look down from a heightOverlooking the cityTo observe from an elevated position

Synonyms

  • 瞰— to look down from above; to overlook
  • 俯视— to look down upon; to overlook
  • 鸟瞰— bird's-eye view; to get a bird's-eye view

Antonyms

  • 仰视— to look up at; to admire
  • 仰望— to look up to; to gaze upward

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • From the mountaintop, we could overlook the entire valley (矙视山谷).
  • The general surveyed the battlefield from the hill (将军从山上矙视战场).
  • The eagle gazes down upon its prey from high above (鹰从高空矙视猎物).

Collocations

  • To overlook from above(居高矙下)
  • To gaze down upon(矙视)
  • To survey the terrain(矙察地形)
  • To look down from a height(从高处矙)
  • Overlooking the city(矙瞰城市)
  • To observe from an elevated position(登高矙远)

Idioms

  • Look down from a height and command a view of the whole area(居高矙下)
  • Ascend high and gaze far(登高矙远)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character often appears in classical Chinese literature describing military strategy or natural observation from elevated positions.
  • It carries connotations of strategic advantage, perspective, and commanding views, reflecting the importance of positioning in traditional Chinese thought.
  • The character is relatively rare in modern usage but maintains its classical literary value.

FAQ