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看似平静却潜藏着力量

Grammar & Usage

phrase / compound predicate

literary / formal

How it works

The phrase consists of two contrasting clauses connected by the adversative conjunction 却 (què, 'yet/but'). The first half '看似平静' acts as an apparent stative description ('seemingly calm'), while the second half '潜藏着力量' uses the verb 潜藏 with the continuous aspect marker 着 to describe an underlying dynamic state ('harboring strength'). It functions as a predicate, attributive modifier, or standalone descriptive clause.

Sample sentences

他的眼神看似平静却潜藏着力量，让人不敢轻易低估。

His gaze appeared calm yet harbored a hidden strength, making it impossible to underestimate him.

这片深潭看似平静却潜藏着力量，水底暗流涌动。

This deep pool looks tranquil on the surface yet harbors great power, with undercurrents surging beneath.

这部小说的文字看似平静却潜藏着力量，直击读者心灵深处。

The prose of this novel seems quiet and calm yet conceals profound power, striking directly at the depths of the reader's soul.

Quick facts

structure:看似 [Adj/State] + 却 + [Verb/Action] + 着 + [Noun]

aspect_marker:着 (zhe) indicates the ongoing, underlying state of the concealed power.

rhetorical_effect:Creates dramatic tension between outward tranquility and inner intensity, similar to the idiom 静水流深 (still waters run deep).

Often used with

Mnemonic

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Example

他的眼神看似平静却潜藏着力量，让人不敢轻易低估。

His gaze appeared calm yet harbored a hidden strength, making it impossible to underestimate him.

这片深潭看似平静却潜藏着力量，水底暗流涌动。

This deep pool looks tranquil on the surface yet harbors great power, with undercurrents surging beneath.