verb
hinsehen
look
Definition & meaning
The verb hinsehen primarily means to look in a specific direction, usually towards something or someone.
There are two main ways the word is used:
- To look at something/someone: Directing one's gaze toward a particular object or location. It implies the act of turning one's attention or eyes to a specific point.
- To pay attention / investigate: It is often used in a figurative sense to mean "to take a closer look" or "to examine" a situation in order to understand it better or to ensure something is correct (e.g., "Man muss genau hinsehen," meaning "One has to look closely").
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- hinsehen is a separable verb (trennbares Verb).
- In a sentence, the prefix "hin-" detaches from the verb root "sehen".
- Example: "Ich sehe dort hin" (I look over there).
- It is a strong verb (irregular): sehen (see) -> sieht (third person singular) -> sah (simple past) -> hat hingesehen (past participle).
Word origin: The word is a compound of the prefix hin (denoting direction toward a place away from the speaker) and the verb sehen (to see/look). It expresses a directional movement of the eyes.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Make “hinsehen” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Er muss genau hinsehen, um das Problem zu erkennen.verb
He must look closely to recognize the problem.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad