Anschauen

Anschauen is a German verb meaning to look at, view, or watch. It can apply to taking a look at something in general or to watching a film, a program, or a scene. The prefix an- combined with schauen forms a separable verb, so in main clauses the prefix is separated, as in ich schaue mir das an.

Conjugation and usage. In the present tense: ich schaue mir das an, du schaust dir das an, er/sie/es schaut sich das an, wir schauen uns das an, ihr schaut euch das an, sie schauen sich das an. The reflexive pronoun mir, dir, sich, uns, euch, sich is commonly used when the viewing is directed at a specific object. In the simple past: ich schaute mir das an, du schautest dir das an, etc. For perfect tense, both forms are common: ich habe mir das angesehen oder ich habe mir das angeschaut. The choice between angesehen and angeschaut largely depends on speaker preference, with angesehen typically linked to the related verb ansehen and angeschaut to anschauen.

Nominal form. The act of viewing can be expressed by the noun das Anschauen. This noun refers to the act or process of looking at something. Note that das Anschauen is distinct from das Ansehen, which means reputation or appearance and is a different word with another meaning and etymology.

Usage notes. Anschauen is widely used for both quick glances and extended viewing, including media such as videos or films. It is often interchangeable with ansehen (to view) and anschauen (to look at), though regional preferences and slight nuance can apply. Example sentences: Wir schauen uns den Bericht an. Der Film wurde von vielen Zuschauern angeschaut. Das Anschauen eines Kunstwerks kann eine längere Beschäftigung sein.