01
aussehen
to look
To have a particular outward appearance or a particular visual impression.
example
Mit dem neuen Haarschnitt siehst du fantastisch aus.
With the new haircut, you look fantastic.
aussehen
to look
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Aussehen' (to look) is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus' goes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu,' the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Du siehst heute wirklich gut aus!
You look really good today!
Sentence structure and use
To describe an appearance, you use the patterns 'aussehen + adjective' or 'aussehen wie + noun/clause.'
EXAMPLE
Das Kleid sieht sehr elegant aus.
The dress looks very elegant.
Fixed expression
To express an assumption, you use the fixed expression 'Es sieht so aus, als ob ...' (It looks as if ...). Careful: in the 'als ob' clause, the conjugated verb comes at the end.
EXAMPLE
Es sieht so aus, als ob es bald regnen würde.
It looks as if it is going to rain soon.
Sentence structure and use
To talk about chances or prospects, you use the structure 'Es sieht [adjective] für [someone/something] aus' (It looks [adjective] for [someone/something]). Typical adjectives are 'gut' (good), 'schlecht' (bad), or 'schwierig' (difficult).
EXAMPLE
Mit diesen guten Noten sieht es gut für deine Bewerbung aus.
With these good grades, it looks good for your application.
Compare with
aussehen vs sehen
to see
'sehen' and 'aussehen' sound similar, but they do not mean the same thing. You use 'sehen' when someone perceives something with their eyes. 'aussehen' describes what outward impression a person or thing makes. The risk of confusion mainly comes from the shared form 'sehen'. If you say 'Ich sehe die Jacke' (I see the jacket), you are perceiving it. If you say 'Die Jacke sieht gut aus' (The jacket looks good), you are describing its appearance. 'sehen' usually needs someone who perceives; 'aussehen' describes how something comes across.
aussehen
Heute sieht Luisa müde aus, weil sie schlecht geschlafen hat.
Luisa looks tired today because she slept badly.
sehen
Vor dem Termin sehe ich noch einmal in meinen Kalender.
Before the appointment, I check my calendar again.
In real life
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