‘斜视’ literally combines ‘斜’ (xié), meaning ‘slanted’ or ‘askew’, and ‘视’ (shì), meaning ‘to look’ or ‘vision’. Together, it describes the act of looking sideways, often with one eye deviating from the normal line of sight — either intentionally (as in disapproval or suspicion) or medically (as in strabismus, a condition where the eyes do not align properly). In everyday usage, it frequently conveys a subtle, judgmental, or skeptical glance, carrying a mild negative or critical connotation.

While it can refer to the clinical condition (strabismus), most native speakers use it figuratively — for example, when someone glances askance at another person’s claim or behavior. It is more formal than casual slang like ‘翻白眼’ (rolling one’s eyes), and appears in written language, literature, and news reporting. The word implies intentionality and attitude, not just physical eye movement.