beizusehen
watch
Definition & meaning
Beizusehen is the zu-infinitive of the separable verb beisehen. It means to watch or observe something without taking part, often with a sense of standing by as events unfold. The verb is uncommon; in everyday German, zuzusehen or dabei zuzusehen is more usual.
Example: Er weigerte sich, dem Streit beizusehen. — “He refused to stand by and watch the argument.”
Grammar & Word origin
Beisehen combines bei (“by, alongside”) and sehen (“to see”). With separable verbs, zu goes between the prefix and the verb: bei + zu + sehen → beizusehen.
It is used particularly with a dative object, such as einem Streit beizusehen (“to watch an argument”). Its forms include ich sehe bei, ich sah bei, and ich habe beigesehen.
Synonyms & antonyms
- zusehen — the closest and more common synonym; means to watch, often without participating.
- zuschauen — also means to watch or look on; often emphasizes watching an activity or performance.
- beobachten — means to observe, usually more deliberately or attentively than beisehen.
There is no exact antonym. In contexts where beizusehen means passively watching, eingreifen (“to intervene”) or mitwirken (“to take part”) may express the opposite.
Common phrases & collocations
- einem Streit beizusehen — to watch an argument
- dem Treiben beizusehen — to watch the goings-on
- nicht länger beisehen — not to keep standing by and watching anymore
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Examples
Es war spannend, dem Handwerker beizusehen.other
It was exciting to watch the craftsman.
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