Result complement "-wan" for finishing

On its own, 完 (wán) means "to finish" or "to complete." Using it in this grammar structure, it expresses the idea of doing some action to completion.

Basic Usage

Structure

As well as with 到 (dào) and 见 (jiàn), you can also form result complements with 完 (wán). This indicates that an action is finished or completed.

Subj. + Verb + 完

Examples

• 我们 明天 可以 做 完 。Wǒmen míngtiān kěyǐ zuò wán.We can finish doing it tomorrow.
• 你 能 吃 完 吗 ？Nǐ néng chī wán ma?Can you finish eating all?
• 我 今天 要 写 完 。Wǒ jīntiān yào xiě wán.I need to finish writing it today.
• 我 没 看 完 。 Wǒ méi kàn wán.I didn't finish reading it.

Usage of 完了 (wán le)

Frequently, you'll also see a 了 (le) at the end, indicating completion.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 完 + 了

Examples

• 我 说 完 了 。Wǒ shuō wán le.I am finished talking.
• 你 吃 完 了 吗 ？ Nǐ chī wán le ma?Are you done eating?
• 我 看 完 了 。Wǒ kàn wán le.I want to finish watching it.
• 卖 完 了 。Mài wán le.It's sold out.
• 我们 打扫 完 了 。Wǒmen dǎsǎo wán le.We finished cleaning.

Where to put the object

If there is an object followed by the verb, 完 must be placed between the verb and the object. To indicate completion, 了 usually goes after the object.

Subj. + Verb + 完 + Obj. + 了

A few examples:

• 我 做 完 作业 了 。Wǒ zuò wán zuòyè le.I finished doing my homework.
• 老板 开 完 会 了 。Lǎobǎn kāi wán huì le.The boss finished having the meeting.
• 我 看 完 这本书 了 。Wǒ kàn wán zhè běn shū le.I finished reading this book.
• 我们 学 完 这 篇 课文 了 。Wǒmen xué wán zhè piān kèwén le.We finished studying this lesson.

In English we say "I finished the movie," or "I finished supper," but in Chinese you should explicitly use the verb implied in English along with 完了 (wán le) to emphasize that you completed the action: "watch the movie (till the end)" or "eat (all my) supper."

• 我 完 了 电影 。Wǒ wán le diànyǐng.
• 我看 完 了 电影 。To tell us that you watched it till the end.Wǒ kàn wán le diànyǐng.I finished watching the movie.

See also

• Result complements "dao" and "jian"
• Result complement "-cuo"
• Result complement "-hao"

Sources and further reading

Books

• A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 273-84) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 97-9) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (pp. 42) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (pp. 86) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 152-3) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 87-8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (pp. 186-7) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy