to watch with folded arms (idiom); to look on without lifting a finger
袖 · 10 strokes
Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 由 represents the sound.
手 · 4 strokes
Pictograph of a hand.
旁 · 10 strokes
Phonosemantic component. 凡 represents the meaning and 方 represents the sound.
观 · 6 strokes
Simplified form of 觀. Phonosemantic compound. 见 represents the meaning and 雚 represents the sound.
朋友有难，我们不能袖手旁观。
We can't just stand by when a friend is in trouble.