How to use 要看、得看
这 / 那 + 要看 / 得看 + Unclear Situation
要看 and 得看 present a factor that will determine an answer or outcome. In conversation, 这 or 那 can stand for the issue already being discussed, followed by the relevant factor. The factor may be a noun phrase, such as available time, or an embedded question about what someone wants or how circumstances develop.
For a fuller sentence, state the unresolved outcome first and place the deciding factor after 要看 or 得看. Question-word clauses and affirmative-negative forms can name that unresolved issue without making the whole sentence a direct question. This construction means that an answer is conditional on something; it does not necessarily describe literally looking at or watching it.
Examples with pinyin and English
这得看你的时间。
This depends on when you are available.
那要看他愿不愿意。
That depends on whether he is willing or not.
这得看天气怎么样。
It depends on how the weather is.
那要看老板怎么想。
It depends on what the boss thinks.
What to remember
- Put the deciding factor after 要看 or 得看.
- Name the uncertain outcome first in fuller sentences.
- 得 is pronounced děi here.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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