看出来 · 想出
make something out; come up with something
Structure
动词 + 出／出来 （+ 宾语）
What it means
出 or 出来 after a verb of seeing, hearing or thinking means something comes “out” into plain view: you make it out, recognise it or think it up.
How it is built
Verb + 出／出来 (+ object): 看出来 tell by looking, 听出来 recognise by the sound, 想出来 think up, 认出来 recognise, 找出来 find: 我想出了一个好办法 (I’ve come up with a good idea).
When to use it
The object goes after 出 (想出一个办法) or between 出 and 来 (想出一个办法来). The negative is 看不出来, “can’t tell”; 你能看出来……吗？ asks whether someone can tell.
Watch out
Don’t mix this up with 出来 as a movement (h3-13): 他从房间里出来了, “he came out of the room”. And 想出 means thinking up something new, while 想起 means remembering.
Examples
我听出来了，是你的声音。
I can tell, it’s your voice.
你能看出来问题在哪儿吗？
Can you see where the problem is?
我想出了一个好办法。
I’ve come up with a good idea.
他戴着帽子，我没认出来。
He was wearing a hat, so I didn’t recognise him.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 25: 装修 (Fixing up the flat)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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