纵观 zòngguān to survey comprehensively
to survey comprehensively; an overall survey
How to remember 纵观: 纵 to indulge in + 观 observe = to survey comprehensively.
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How it is used
- To survey the whole sweep of something - 纵观历史 (zòngguān lìshǐ) looking across all of history.
- Typically sentence-initial as a framing device: 纵观全局 (zòngguān quánjú), taking in the entire picture.
- Formal/written; signals a comprehensive, big-picture assessment.