Difference between revisions of "Comparing "jian" and "jianmian""

 
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Both 见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) to mean “to see someone” or "to meet up".  
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Both 见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) to mean “to see someone” or "to meet up with someone." Sometimes they can be used interchangeably.  
  
'''Sometimes''' they can be used interchangeably.
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{{SimilarWordsCol1|见|jiàn|to see someone|verb|formal and informal}}
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{{SimilarWordsCol2|见面|jiànmiàn|to meet face to face|verb|formal and informal}}
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{{SimilarWordsPageInfo|A2|HSK3|ASV4567}}
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{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
  
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
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The key difference between these words is 见 (jiàn) emphasizes  '''to see someone''', whereas 见面 emphasizes a '''to meet up with someone''' (face to face).
<tr>
 
<th style="width:24%"> </th>
 
<th style="width:33%">见 (jiàn)</th>
 
<th style="width:33%">见面 (jiànmiàn)</th>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Meaning</th><td>to see someone</td><td class="liju">to meet up</td>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Part of Speech</th><td>verb</td><td class="liju">verb</td>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Formality</th><td>formal and informal</td><td class="liju">formal and informal</td>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
  
The key difference between these words is emphasizes  '''to see someone''', whereas 见面 emphasizes a '''to meet up''' (a detailed plan with clear steps to do something).
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== (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) Can Be Interchangeable ==
  
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In the following sentences, 见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) both can be used interchangeably:
  
== Similarities ==
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<div class="liju">
  
=== Example Sentences ===
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* 我们 明天 几 点 <em>见</em>? <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen míngtiān jǐ diǎn <em>jiàn</em>?</span><span class="trans">What time shall we meet tomorrow?</span>
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* 我们 在 咖啡 店 <em>见面</em> 吧。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài kāfēi diàn <em>jiànmiàn</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">Let's meet at the coffee shop.</span>
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* 我们 很久 没 <em>见面</em> 了。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen hěn jiǔ méi <em>jiànmiàn</em> le.</span><span class="trans">We haven't seen each other for a long time.</span>
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* 我们 三 个 月 没有 <em>见面</em> 了。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen sān gè yuè méiyǒu <em>jiànmiàn</em> le.</span><span class="trans">We haven't seen each other for three months.</span>
  
In the following sentences, 见 (jiàn) AND 见面 (jiànmiàn) both can be used interchangeably:
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</div>
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== Many Set Phrases Use 见 (jiàn) ==
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=== Common Set Phrases with 见 (jiàn) ===
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These common phrases only work with 见:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju dapei">
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 +
* 明天 <em>见</em> <span class="pinyin">míngtiān <em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">see you tomorrow</span>
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* 一会儿 <em>见</em> <span class="pinyin">yīhuìr <em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">see you in a while</span>
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* 好 久 不 <em>见</em> <span class="pinyin">hǎo jiǔ bu <em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">long time no see</span>
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</div>
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 +
You'll notice that the English translation "see" feels natural for the examples here, although sometimes "meet" might work as well.
 +
 
 +
=== Example Sentences with 见 (jiàn) as a Set Phrase ===
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 +
In the following sentences, only 见 (jiàn) can be used.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*
 
*
 
*
 
  
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* 我 快 到 了,<strong>一会儿</strong> <em>见</em>! <span class="pinyin">Wǒ kuài dào le, <strong>yīhuìr</strong> <em> jiàn </em>!</span><span class="trans">I'm almost there. See you in a bit!</span>
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* 我们 下课 了。<strong>明天</strong> <em>见</em>! <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xià kè le. <strong>míngtiān</strong> <em> jiàn </em>!</span><span class="trans">We're out of class. See you tomorrow!</span>
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* 真的 是 你 吗?<strong>好 久 不</strong> <em>见</em>! <span class="pinyin">Zhēnde shì nǐ ma? <strong>hǎo jiǔ bù</strong><em> jiàn </em>!</span><span class="trans">Is it really you? It's been a long time!</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Differences ==
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== 见 (jiàn) Can Be Immediately Followed by an Object ==  
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=== Common Objects that Follow 见 (jiàn) ===
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 +
<div class="liju dapei">
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* <em>见</em> 你 <span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em> nǐ</span><span class="trans">to see you</span>
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* <em>见</em> 我<span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em> wǒ</span><span class="trans">to see me</span>
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* <em>见</em> 朋友<span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em> péngyou</span><span class="trans">to meet friend </span>
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</div>
  
见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) also have specific individual uses.
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=== Example Sentences with 见 (jiàn) Directly Followed by an Object ===
  
(jiàn) is followed by an object, i.e., person/people being seen.  
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In the following sentences, only 见 can be used. Aside from set phrases, one of the most common ways to use 见 is to directly follow it with an object (usually a person) to mean "meet" that person. (As you'll see below, 见面 can't be used this way.)
  
见面 (jiànmiàn)cannot be followed an object and usually ends a sentence.
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<div class="liju">
  
=== Common Phrases ===
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* 我 不 想 <em>见</em> <strong>她</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xiǎng <em>jiàn</em> <strong>tā</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I don't want to see her.</span>
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* 我 昨天 去 <em>见</em> 我的 <strong>我 的 朋友</strong> 了。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān qù <em>jiàn</em> <strong>wǒ de péngyou</strong> le.</span><span class="trans">I went to see my friend yesterday.</span>
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* 明天 我 很 忙,不 能 <em>见</em> <strong>你</strong> 了。 <span class="pinyin">Míngtiān wǒ hěn máng, bù néng <em>jiàn</em> <strong>nǐ</strong> le.</span><span class="trans">I'm very busy tomorrow. I can't meet you.</span>
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* 我 <em>见</em> 过 <strong>他</strong> 两 次。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiàn</em> guo <strong>tā</strong> liǎng cì.</span><span class="trans">I've met him twice.</span>
  
These (set) phrases work ONLY with 见(jiàn):
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</div>
  
* 一会儿~
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== Using 见面 (jiànmiàn) with an Object ==
* 晚上~
 
* 明天~
 
* 明年~
 
* 下次~
 
  
=== Example Sentences ===
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=== Common Mistakes with 见面 (jiànmiàn) ===
  
In the following sentences, ONLY “见”(jiàn)can be used:
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The main thing to remember with using 见面 is that you ''can't follow it with an object''.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*
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*
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<ul>
*
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<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>你</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>nǐ</strong></span></li>
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<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>我</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>wǒ</strong></span></li>
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<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>他</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>tā</strong></span></li>
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<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>朋友</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>péngyou</strong></span></li>
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</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
In the following sentences, ONLY “见面”(jiànmiàn)can be used:
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=== Pattern with 见面 (jiànmiàn) and an Object ===
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In the pattern below, the object is normally a person.
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 +
<div class="jiegou">
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 +
和 + Object + 见面
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 +
</div>
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Sometimes 跟 is used instead of 和. Both are fine.
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 +
=== Example Sentences with 见面 (jiànmiàn) ===
 +
 
 +
In the following sentences, you can see how 见面 is used correctly:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*
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*
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* 我 <strong>和</strong> 姐姐 很 少 <em>见面</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>hé</strong> jiějie hěn shǎo <em>jiànmiàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">I rarely meet up with my big sister.</span>
*
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* 今天 晚上 我 要 <strong>和</strong> 我的 朋友 <em>见面</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ yào <strong>hé</strong> wǒde péngyou <em>jiànmiàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">Tonight I want to meet with my friend.</span>
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* 第一 次 <strong>跟</strong> 他们 <em>见面</em> 后 我们 成 了 朋友 。 <span class="pinyin">Dì-yī cì <strong>gēn</strong> tāmen <em>jiànmiàn</em> hòu wǒmen chéng le péngyou.</span><span class="trans">After meeting them for the first time we became friends.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Advanced Differences ==
 
== Advanced Differences ==
  
见面 (jiànmiàn)is a special type of Chinese verb called a “separable verb”, meaning 见 and 面 can be “separated” and other “stuff” can be put in the middle. For a detailed understanding of this type of verb and its usage click on this link to our grammar wiki page.
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Technically, 见面 (jiànmiàn) is just one way to use 见 (jiàn). 见面 (jiànmiàn) is a special type of Chinese verb-object construct called a “'''separable verb''',meaning 见 and 面 can be “separated” and other information can be put in the middle. This grammar is a bit complicated, though, and you don't need it as an elementary learner. For a detailed understanding of this type of verb and its usage, see the [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Separable_verb intermediate-level Chinese Grammar Wiki grammar points on '''separable verbs'''].
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== AllSet Learning Wikis ===
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* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Separable_verb Separable verb] (Chinese Grammar Wiki)
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 +
=== Books ===
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* 1700对近义词语用法对比 第654页
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=== Websites ===
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* HiNative: [https://zh.hinative.com/questions/7652808 "见" 和 "见面" 和有什么不一样? ]

Latest revision as of 07:35, 19 April 2022

Both 见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) to mean “to see someone” or "to meet up with someone." Sometimes they can be used interchangeably.











A2HSK3ASV4567
见 (jiàn) 见面 (jiànmiàn)
Meaning to see someone to meet face to face
Part of Speech verb verb
Formality formal and informal formal and informal

The key difference between these words is 见 (jiàn) emphasizes to see someone, whereas 见面 emphasizes a to meet up with someone (face to face).

见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) Can Be Interchangeable

In the following sentences, 见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) both can be used interchangeably:

  • 我们 明天 几 点 Wǒmen míngtiān jǐ diǎn jiàn?What time shall we meet tomorrow?
  • 我们 在 咖啡 店 见面 吧。 Wǒmen zài kāfēi diàn jiànmiàn ba.Let's meet at the coffee shop.
  • 我们 很久 没 见面 了。 Wǒmen hěn jiǔ méi jiànmiàn le.We haven't seen each other for a long time.
  • 我们 三 个 月 没有 见面 了。 Wǒmen sān gè yuè méiyǒu jiànmiàn le.We haven't seen each other for three months.

Many Set Phrases Use 见 (jiàn)

Common Set Phrases with 见 (jiàn)

These common phrases only work with 见:

  • 明天 míngtiān jiànsee you tomorrow
  • 一会儿 yīhuìr jiànsee you in a while
  • 好 久 不 hǎo jiǔ bu jiànlong time no see

You'll notice that the English translation "see" feels natural for the examples here, although sometimes "meet" might work as well.

Example Sentences with 见 (jiàn) as a Set Phrase

In the following sentences, only 见 (jiàn) can be used.

  • 我 快 到 了,一会儿 Wǒ kuài dào le, yīhuìr jiàn !I'm almost there. See you in a bit!
  • 我们 下课 了。明天 Wǒmen xià kè le. míngtiān jiàn !We're out of class. See you tomorrow!
  • 真的 是 你 吗?好 久 不 Zhēnde shì nǐ ma? hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn !Is it really you? It's been a long time!

见 (jiàn) Can Be Immediately Followed by an Object

Common Objects that Follow 见 (jiàn)

  • jiànto see you
  • jiànto see me
  • 朋友jiàn péngyouto meet friend

Example Sentences with 见 (jiàn) Directly Followed by an Object

In the following sentences, only 见 can be used. Aside from set phrases, one of the most common ways to use 见 is to directly follow it with an object (usually a person) to mean "meet" that person. (As you'll see below, 见面 can't be used this way.)

  • 我 不 想 Wǒ bù xiǎng jiàn .I don't want to see her.
  • 我 昨天 去 我的 我 的 朋友 了。 Wǒ zuótiān qù jiàn wǒ de péngyou le.I went to see my friend yesterday.
  • 明天 我 很 忙,不 能 了。 Míngtiān wǒ hěn máng, bù néng jiàn le.I'm very busy tomorrow. I can't meet you.
  • 两 次。 jiàn guo liǎng cì.I've met him twice.

Using 见面 (jiànmiàn) with an Object

Common Mistakes with 见面 (jiànmiàn)

The main thing to remember with using 见面 is that you can't follow it with an object.

  • 见面 jiànmiàn
  • 见面 jiànmiàn
  • 见面 jiànmiàn
  • 见面 朋友jiànmiàn péngyou

Pattern with 见面 (jiànmiàn) and an Object

In the pattern below, the object is normally a person.

和 + Object + 见面

Sometimes 跟 is used instead of 和. Both are fine.

Example Sentences with 见面 (jiànmiàn)

In the following sentences, you can see how 见面 is used correctly:

  • 姐姐 很 少 见面 jiějie hěn shǎo jiànmiàn.I rarely meet up with my big sister.
  • 今天 晚上 我 要 我的 朋友 见面Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ yào wǒde péngyou jiànmiàn.Tonight I want to meet with my friend.
  • 第一 次 他们 见面 后 我们 成 了 朋友 。 Dì-yī cì gēn tāmen jiànmiàn hòu wǒmen chéng le péngyou.After meeting them for the first time we became friends.

Advanced Differences

Technically, 见面 (jiànmiàn) is just one way to use 见 (jiàn). 见面 (jiànmiàn) is a special type of Chinese verb-object construct called a “separable verb,” meaning 见 and 面 can be “separated” and other information can be put in the middle. This grammar is a bit complicated, though, and you don't need it as an elementary learner. For a detailed understanding of this type of verb and its usage, see the intermediate-level Chinese Grammar Wiki grammar points on separable verbs.

Sources and further reading

AllSet Learning Wikis

Books

  • 1700对近义词语用法对比 第654页

Websites