Usage note
看作表示把什么当成什么。
kàn zuò biǎo shì bǎ shén me dàng chéng shén me。
看作 means to regard as or consider as.
Context note
看作常用于理解、评价和比喻。
kàn zuò cháng yòng yú lǐ jiě 、 píng jià hé bǐ yù。
It is often used with understanding, evaluation, and metaphor.
5 examples
我把他看作朋友。
wǒ bǎ tā kàn zuò péng yǒu。
I regard him as a friend.
这个问题可以看作练习。
zhè ge wèn tí kě yǐ kàn zuò liàn xí。
This problem can be regarded as practice.
老师把这件事看作重要。
lǎo shī bǎ zhè jiàn shì kàn zuò zhòng yào。
The teacher regards this matter as important.
她被看作榜样。
tā bèi kàn zuò bǎng yàng。
She is seen as a model.
别把这看作小事。
bié bǎ zhè kàn zuò xiǎo shì。
Do not regard this as a small matter.
5 mini stories
老师说，可以把错误看作学习机会。
lǎo shī shuō， kě yǐ bǎ cuò wù kàn zuò xué xí jī huì。
The teacher said mistakes can be seen as learning opportunities.
他把同学看作好伙伴。
tā bǎ tóng xué kàn zuò hǎo huǒ bàn。
He sees his classmates as good partners.
这件事可以看作一种提醒。
zhè jiàn shì kě yǐ kàn zuò yì zhǒng tí xǐng。
This matter can be regarded as a reminder.
她被看作很努力的人。
tā bèi kàn zuò hěn nǔ lì de rén。
She is seen as a very hardworking person.
看作什么，想法就会不同。
kàn zuò shén me， xiǎng fǎ jiù huì bù tóng。
What you regard it as changes how you think.
Mini dialogue
Like Family
A
我把你看作最好的朋友。
Wǒ bǎ nǐ kàn zuò zuì hǎo de péngyou.
I regard you as my best friend.
B
谢谢！我也把你看作家人。
Xièxie! Wǒ yě bǎ nǐ kàn zuò jiārén.
Thank you! I also regard you as family.
School Project
A
我们可以把这个问题看作一个挑战。
Wǒmen kěyǐ bǎ zhège wèntí kàn zuò yī gè tiǎozhàn.
We can regard this problem as a challenge.
B
对，看作学习的机会。
Duì, kàn zuò xuéxí de jīhuì.
Right, regard it as a learning opportunity.
Related words and contrasts
similar
当作
dàngzuò
treat as; regard as
Both mean to consider something as something else. 当作 is more colloquial.
similar
视为
shìwéi
regard as; view as
视为 is more formal and often used in written language.
contrast
看成
kànchéng
see as; mistake for
看成 can mean to mistake something for something else, while 看作 is more about regarding.