Result complement "-wan" for finishing

Of all the result complements in Chinese, this one is one of the most satisfying to use, since it implies "finishing" something. On it's own, 完 (wán) means "to finish" or "complete." Using it in this grammar structure, it expresses the idea of doing the verb until you are complete.

Structure

As well as with 到 and 见, you can also form result complements with 完. This indicates that an action is finished or completed. The structure is:

Subject + Verb + 完 + 了 + Object

Examples

  • 这 些 工作 需要 2 个 小时。
  • 我们 看 电影 以后 去 哪里?
  • 课 以后,我 要 请 我 的 老师 吃饭。
  • 我 还 没有 说 这 件 事。
  • 你 为什么 不 喝 这 杯 白酒?
  • 我 看 这 些 邮件 以后 跟 你 开会。
  • 你 还 没有 回答 我 的 问题。
  • 我 昨天晚上 看 了 那 本 书。I finished reading that book yesterday evening.
  • 他 喝 了 一 瓶 啤酒 就去 睡觉了。He finished drinking a bottle of beer and went to bed.
  • 记者 采访 了 这位 著名的 女演员,然后 离开了酒店。 The journalist finished the interview with the famous actress and the left the hotel.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books