Result complement "-wan" for finishing
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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.
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 + 了
Frequently, you'll also see a 了 (le) at the end, indicating completion.
Examples
- 我 说 完 了 。I am finished talking.
- 你 吃 完 了 吗 ? Are you done eating?
- 我 看 完 了 。I want to finish watching it.
- 大家 都 写 完 了 。 Everyone finished writing.
- 你们 做 完 了 吗 ?Did you finish doing it?
Subj. + Verb + 完 + Obj. + 了
Examples
- 我 做 完 作业 了 。 .
- 老板 开 完 作业 了 。 .
- 完 。
- 我 看 完 两本 书 。.
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 。
- 我看 完 了 电影 。To tell us that you watched it till the end.I finished watching the movie.
See also
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