noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
sit idly by; look on without acting
Used when someone remains a passive spectator in a situation that calls for action, often with a negative connotation. Commonly appears in the pattern 〜を座視する.
彼は友人が困っているのを座視できなかった。
He couldn't just sit idly by while his friend was in trouble.
政府は経済危
The government was criticized for looking on unconcernedly at the economic crisis.