How do you pronounce 东张西望?

东张西望 is pronounced as "dōng zhāng xī wàng" in Mandarin Chinese.

东张西望

Q: What does 东张西望 mean?

东张西望 (dōng zhāng xī wàng) literally means "Look east, gaze west" and metaphorically means "Glancing around in all directions; unable to settle". It belongs to the Relationships & Character category of Chinese idioms.

Q: When is 东张西望 used?

东张西望 is used when The nervous visitor kept looking around anxiously during the interview.

东张西望 (dōng zhāng xī wàng) literally means “look east, gaze west” and expresses “glancing around in all directions; unable to settle”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.

Also searched as: dong zhang xi wang, dong zhang xi wang,东张西望 meaning, 东张西望 in english

Glancing around in all directions; unable to settle

Pronunciation: dōng zhāng xī wàng Literal meaning: Look east, gaze west

Origin & Usage

Looking east (东张) and west (西望) — turning the head about instead of letting the gaze settle. It belongs to vernacular fiction, where it marks either distraction or furtiveness depending on the scene, and the reader is expected to tell which from context. Restless glancing about, often with the suggestion that the person is up to something.

Examples

English: "The nervous visitor kept looking around anxiously during the interview"

Chinese: 紧张的访客在面试期间不断东张西望

Related Chinese Idioms

Similar idioms about relationships & character

声东击西

shēng dōng jī xī

Create a diversion; use misdirection

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虚张声势

xū zhāng shēng shì

Bluffing with fake display

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过河拆桥

guò hé chāi qiáo

Abandoning those who helped you

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狐狸尾巴

hú li wěi ba

True nature eventually revealed

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朝秦暮楚

zhāo qín mù chǔ

Constantly shifting loyalty for personal gain

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半面之交

bàn miàn zhī jiāo

Superficial acquaintance without depth

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言行一致

yán xíng yī zhì

Practice what one preaches

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恩将仇报

ēn jiāng chóu bào

Ingratitude and betrayal

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 东张西望 mean in English?

东张西望 (dōng zhāng xī wàng) literally translates to “Look east, gaze west” and is used to express “Glancing around in all directions; unable to settle”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.