袖手旁观

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"袖手旁观" literally means "folding one's arms and watching from the side." It describes a situation where someone observes an event or problem without taking any action, often implying indifference or unwillingness to help.

Common Contexts

This phrase is frequently used in social, workplace, or emergency contexts to criticize passivity or lack of responsibility.

Collocations and Patterns

Nuance

Using 袖手旁观 often carries a negative connotation, suggesting moral criticism of those who choose not to intervene when action is needed.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse 袖手旁观 with simply observing or watching; it specifically implies a deliberate choice not to act despite being able to.

Example Sentences

Faced with a colleague's difficulties, he chose to stand by and do nothing,

In an emergency, you cannot just stand by; you must take immediate action.

As social problems worsen, the public cannot just watch idly; they should