to look at / to watch
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to look at / watch
To deliberately direct one's gaze at someone or something and observe it. It can mean both a quick look and a longer period of looking, as with a film or a picture.
Wollen wir uns heute Abend einen Film anschauen?
Do we want to watch a film tonight?
to look at / check out
To view, inspect, or experience something in order to get an impression of it. This expression is often used for sights, apartments, exhibitions, or even problems.
Wir haben uns am Wochenende die neue Wohnung angeschaut.
We looked at the new apartment over the weekend.
'Anschauen' (to look at/watch) is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' stands at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and infinitive constructions, the verb remains together.
Ich schaue mir die Fotos von unserem Urlaub an.
I am looking at the photos from our vacation.
The verb is based on 'schauen' (to look). The prefix 'an-' directs the gaze specifically toward an object and implies a conscious, focused action.
Schau mich an, wenn ich mit dir rede!
Look at me when I'm talking to you!
The structure 'sich (Dativ) etwas (Akkusativ) anschauen' (to look at something for oneself) is very common. The dative pronoun (mir, dir, sich) emphasizes that the person is doing the viewing for themselves, out of their own interest.
Wir schauen uns morgen ein neues Haus an.
We are going to look at a new house tomorrow.
In the meaning 'to view' or 'to inspect', it is often combined with things one visits or checks before buying: 'sich eine Wohnung anschauen' (to look at an apartment), 'sich eine Stadt anschauen' (to see/look around a city), 'sich ein Auto anschauen' (to look at a car).
Bevor wir die Wohnung mieten, wollen wir sie uns genau anschauen.
Before we rent the apartment, we want to take a close look at it.
to look / watch
Schauen and anschauen can both express deliberately looking at something. Anschauen is used directly with the person or thing being looked at and has a separable prefix. In particularly regional usage, schauen can also be used directly with an object or film, so the meanings overlap there.
Heute Abend schauen wir den neuen Film an.
Tonight, we’re watching the new film.
Heute Abend schauen wir den neuen Film.
Tonight, we’re watching the new film.
