to look away
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to look away
To deliberately turn one's gaze away from something or someone. You intentionally look in another direction.
Als der gruselige Teil des Films kam, musste ich wegschauen.
When the scary part of the film came on, I had to look away.
to look away
To deliberately ignore a problem, an injustice, or other people's suffering and not intervene. You act as if you do not notice it.
Bei Mobbing darf man nicht einfach wegschauen, sondern muss den Betroffenen helfen.
When it comes to bullying, you must not simply look away; you have to help those affected.
'Wegschauen' (to look away) is a separable verb. The prefix 'weg-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Er schaut bei dem traurigen Film immer weg.
He always looks away during the sad film.
In its figurative meaning, 'wegschauen' (to look away) often has a strong moral appeal. The call 'nicht wegschauen!' (don't look away!) means that you should take action and help when there are problems or injustice.
Wenn jemand Hilfe braucht, darf man nicht einfach wegschauen.
When someone needs help, you must not simply look away.
In the literal meaning, the preposition 'von' (from) is often used to say what someone turns their gaze away from.
Die Kinder schauten schnell vom Bildschirm weg, als die Eltern ins Zimmer kamen.
The children quickly looked away from the screen when their parents came into the room.
In the figurative meaning, the preposition 'bei' (in the case of/when it comes to) is often used to name the situation that is being ignored.
Bei Rassismus im Alltag darf man auf keinen Fall wegschauen.
When it comes to everyday racism, you must absolutely not look away.
to ignore
Ignorieren generally means deliberately paying no attention to something or someone. Wegschauen particularly emphasizes refusing to look at a visible problematic situation or to intervene. Use ignorieren for general non-attention; when someone deliberately does nothing in the face of problems, wegschauen is more vivid.
Viele Passanten schauten bei dem Streit weg und griffen nicht ein.
Many passersby looked away when the argument took place and did not intervene.
Viele Passanten ignorierten den Streit und gingen einfach weiter.
Many passersby ignored the argument and simply walked on.
