<p>As LAMC says, both are correct expressions that native Chinese speakers would say.</p>
<p>事情(Things)往往(often)没有(are not)看上去(as it looks)那么简单(as simple) -- Things  are often not as simple as it seems</p>
<p>事情*Things)往往(often)不像(are not like)看起来(as it looks)那么简单(as simple) -- Things are often not as simple as it seems. (We usually ignore the like in the sentence as it means the exact same as the above.)</p>
<p>This is interesting because this substitution doesn't always work, but it works in this context.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-02T21:12:10.663Z
Thank you very much for the understandable explanation. I think I'm starting to understand the differences. Your explanation is very useful. I am very grateful for your help.
robert
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-25T15:50:35.300Z
2023-01-25T15:50:35.300Z
Wolfking
<p>They both work.</p>
<p>From 牛津英汉汉英词典， one of the several meanings of 没有:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>（表比较） not so … as ▸ 这部电影没有那部电影有趣。 This film is not as interesting as
that one.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-25T14:23:13.073Z
2023-01-25T14:23:13.073Z
LAMC
<p>are you getting these sentences from somewhere? or can it just be any sentence that translates that meaning?</p>
<p>I would say 平常不能只看事情的表面。 or for something closer to your original sentence 事情通常並不那樣簡單。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-23T10:27:19.237Z
2023-01-23T10:27:19.237Z
zagrycha
<p>I want to translate a sentence: Things are not as simple as they seem.  I have two sentences and I don't know which one is right:</p>
<p>事情往往没有看上去那么简单。</p>
<p>事情往往不像看起来那么简单</p>
<p>I'm asking because I don't understand the first sentence and maybe it isn't right. The second sentence I understand.
Thank you for your help.</p>

<translation>
How to say: Things are not as simple as they seem
# How to say: Things are not as simple as they seem

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-01-23)

I want to translate a sentence: Things are not as simple as they seem. I have two sentences and I don't know which one is right:

事情往往没有看上去那么简单。

事情往往不像看起来那么简单

I'm asking because I don't understand the first sentence and maybe it isn't right. The second sentence I understand.
Thank you for your help.

**Tags:** translation

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-01-25. Score: 1

As LAMC says, both are correct expressions that native Chinese speakers would say.

事情(Things)往往(often)没有(are not)看上去(as it looks)那么简单(as simple) -- Things are often not as simple as it seems

事情\*Things)往往(often)不像(are not like)看起来(as it looks)那么简单(as simple) -- Things are often not as simple as it seems. (We usually ignore the like in the sentence as it means the exact same as the above.)

This is interesting because this substitution doesn't always work, but it works in this context.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you very much for the understandable explanation. I think I'm starting to understand the differences. Your explanation is very useful. I am very grateful for your help.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2023-01-25. Score: 0

They both work.

From 牛津英汉汉英词典， one of the several meanings of 没有:

> （表比较） not so … as ▸ 这部电影没有那部电影有趣。 This film is not as interesting as
> that one.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2023-01-23. Score: 0

are you getting these sentences from somewhere? or can it just be any sentence that translates that meaning?

I would say 平常不能只看事情的表面。 or for something closer to your original sentence 事情通常並不那樣簡單。


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