Usage of 目睹
The verb 目睹 (mù dǔ) means 'to witness' or 'to see something happen with one's own eyes.' It emphasizes direct, personal observation, often of significant or impactful events such as accidents, disasters, or crimes.
Common Contexts
目睹 is frequently used in formal or written contexts, such as news reports or police statements, but can also appear in everyday speech when stressing firsthand experience.
Collocations and Patterns
- 亲眼目睹 (qīnyǎn mùdǔ): to witness with one's own eyes, emphasizing personal experience.
- 目睹现场 (mùdǔ xiànchǎng): to witness the scene (of an event or accident).
- 目睹灾难/事故 (mùdǔ zāinàn/shìgù): to witness a disaster or accident.
Nuances
Using 目睹 implies a strong visual impression and often emotional impact. It differs from 看 (kàn, to look) or 看到 (kàndào, to see) by stressing the significance and directness of the observation.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 目睹 with 目击 (mùjī), which also means 'to witness' but is more commonly used in legal or police contexts referring to witnesses. 目睹 focuses more on the act of personally seeing the event happen.