The New Dictionary.
Search dictionary
Chinese/Dictionary entry

袖手旁观

xiù shǒu páng guāndictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to watch with folded arms (idiom) / to look on without lifting a finger
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-f26a2b110d898be3. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

袖手旁觀 袖手旁观 [xiu4 shou3 pang2 guan1] /to watch with folded arms (idiom); to look on without lifting a finger/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 袖手旁觀

  • 袖
    xiù

    sleeve / to tuck inside one's sleeve

  • 手
    shǒu

    hand / (formal) to hold / person engaged in certain types of work / person skilled in certain types of work / personal(ly) / convenient / classifier for skill / CL:雙|双[shuāng],隻|只[zhī]

  • 旁
    páng

    one side / other / different / lateral component of a Chinese character (such as 刂[dāo], 亻[rén] etc)

  • 观
    guān

    to look at / to watch / to observe / to behold / to advise / concept / point of view / outlook

    guàn

    Taoist monastery / palace gate watchtower / platform

    Guàn

    surname Guan

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.