What does 看 mean in the context of expressing "it depends"?

看 is used to indicate that the outcome depends on a specific factor, e.g., 看天气 (kàn tiānqì), meaning "It depends on the weather."

Can 看, 要看, and 得看 be used interchangeably?

Generally, yes, but 要看 and 得看 often convey more emphasis or necessity than 看 alone.

How do you use 要看 in a sentence?

Example: 这要看你的时间 (zhè yào kàn nǐ de shíjiān), meaning "This depends on your time."

What’s the difference between 看, 要看, and 得看?

看 is neutral, 要看 adds emphasis (e.g., "it really depends"), and 得看 implies a necessity to consider certain conditions.

Are these expressions formal or informal?

These expressions are commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the tone and setting.

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HSK 4

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Expressing "it depends" with 看, 要看, & 得看	要看 + (factor/condition)	你什么时候走要看你什么时候有空。
Expressing "each other" with 互相	Subject + 互相 + Verb + (Object)	他们互相帮助。
Expressing as a result with 结果	[Cause or Action], 结果 [Effect or Outcome]	他没带伞，结果被雨淋湿了。
Expressing "until" with 直到	Action/State + 直到 + Condition/Result + 为止	她一直跑步，直到累得站不住为止。
Expressing "About" with 关于	关于 + Topic, ⋯⋯	关于这个项目，我们还在研究中。
Expressing suddenness with 一下子	Subject + 一下子 + Clause	他一下子明白了这个问题。