瞰
to look down from a height; to spy on sth
Closest English meanings
to overlook·to peep
The Calligrapher — Fàn Chéngdà 范成大
Song poet-calligrapher famed for running script; one of the Southern Song's Four Great Poets.
Song calligrapher (), master of running script — known for 《中流一壶帖》. Song dynasty
Cultural Story
瞰 looks down from on high. Ancient military writers knew its worth: from a city wall or a hilltop beacon tower a commander 瞰s the enemy camp, reading campfires and dust columns for strength and intent. The same downward gaze could belong to the scout, the surveyor, or the peeking neighbor — 瞰 has always carried a faint whiff of watching what was not meant to be watched.
Common words & phrases
- 俯瞰 to overlook
- 鸟瞰 bird's-eye view
- 瞰视 look down
Read the story behind the character
Today everyone commands the heights. Drone footage gives the bird's-eye view — 鸟瞰 — of wedding venues and coastlines; real-estate ads promise apartments where you 俯瞰 (overlook) the whole river bend. Architects pin a 鸟瞰式 masterplan above the conference table for a full 瞰视 (looking down) of the site, and tourists climb TV towers mainly to lean on the glass and look straight down.
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