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

 
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{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
  
The key difference between these words is 见 emphasizes  '''to see someone''', whereas 见面 emphasizes a '''to meet up with someone''' (face to face).
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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).
  
== Similarities ==
+
== 见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) Can Be Interchangeable ==
  
=== Example Sentences ===
+
In the following sentences, 见 (jiàn) and 见面 (jiànmiàn) both can be used interchangeably:
 
 
In the following sentences, 见 and 见面 both can be used interchangeably:
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 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 will we see you tomorrow?</span>
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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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
 +
* 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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Differences ==  
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== Many Set Phrases Use 见 (jiàn) ==  
  
=== Common Phrases with 见 ===
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=== Common Set Phrases with 见 (jiàn) ===
  
 
These common phrases only work with 见:  
 
These common phrases only work with 见:  
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<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
  
* ~朋友 <span class="pinyin">~ péngyou</span><span class="trans">to see a friend</span>
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* 明天 <em></em> <span class="pinyin">míngtiān <em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">see you tomorrow</span>
* ~你 <span class="pinyin">~ nǐ</span><span class="trans">to see you</span>
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* 一会儿 <em></em> <span class="pinyin">yīhuìr <em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">see you in a while</span>
* 明天~ <span class="pinyin">Míngtiān ~</span><span class="trans">see you tomorrow</span>
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* 好 久 不 <em></em> <span class="pinyin">hǎo jiǔ bu <em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">long time no see</span>
* 一会儿~ <span class="pinyin">Yīhuìr ~</span><span class="trans">see you in a while</span>
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</div>
* 下次~ <span class="pinyin">Xiàcì ~</span><span class="trans">see you next time</span>
+
 
* 晚上~ <span class="pinyin">Wǎnshang ~</span><span class="trans">see you tonight</span>
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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.
* 明年~ <span class="pinyin">Míngnián ~</span><span class="trans">see you next year</span>
+
 
 +
=== Example Sentences with 见 (jiàn) as a Set Phrase ===
 +
 
 +
In the following sentences, only 见 (jiàn) can be used.
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
  
 +
* 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>
 +
* 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>
 +
* 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>
  
You'll notice that the English translation "see" feels natural for most of the examples here, although in some cases "meet" might qork as well.
+
== 见 (jiàn) Can Be Immediately Followed by an Object ==
 +
 
 +
=== Common Objects that Follow 见 (jiàn) ===
  
=== Example Sentences with 见 ===
+
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* <em>见</em> 你 <span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em> nǐ</span><span class="trans">to see you</span>
 +
* <em></em> 我<span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em> wǒ</span><span class="trans">to see me</span>
 +
* <em>见</em> 朋友<span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em> péngyou</span><span class="trans">to meet friend </span>
 +
</div>
  
In the following sentences, only 见 can be used:
+
=== 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.)
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*
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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>
 +
* 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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Common Mistakes with 见面 ===
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== Using 见面 (jiànmiàn) with an Object ==
  
The main thing to remember with using 见面 is that you ''can't follow it with a person''.  
+
=== 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''.  
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>朋友</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>péngyou</strong></span></li>
 
 
<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>你</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>nǐ</strong></span></li>  
 
<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>你</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>nǐ</strong></span></li>  
 
<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>我</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>wǒ</strong></span></li>  
 
<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>我</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>wǒ</strong></span></li>  
<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>他</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>tā</strong></span></li>
 +
<li class="x"><em>见面</em> <strong>朋友</strong><span class="pinyin"><em>jiànmiàn</em> <strong>péngyou</strong></span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Example Sentences with 见面 ===
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=== Pattern with 见面 (jiànmiàn) and an Object ===
 +
 
 +
In the pattern below, the object is normally a person.
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
和 + Object + 见面
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
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:
 
In the following sentences, you can see how 见面 is used correctly:
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 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>
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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>
* 今天 晚上 我 要 和 我的 朋友 <em>见面</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ yào hé wǒde péngyou <em> jiànmiàn </em>.</span><span class="trans">Tonight I want to meet with my friend.</span>
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* 今天 晚上 我 要 <strong></strong> 我的 朋友 <em>见面</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ yào <strong></strong> wǒde péngyou <em>jiànmiàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">Tonight I want to meet with my friend.</span>
* 第一 次 <em>见面</em> 后 我们 成 了 朋友 。 <span class="pinyin">Dì-yī cì <em>jiànmiàn</em> hòu wǒmen chéng le péngyou.</span><span class="trans">After meeting the first time we became friends.</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>
* 我 和 姐姐 很 少 <em>见面</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ hé jiějie hěn shǎo <em>jiànmiàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">I rarely meet up with my big sister.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 +
=== AllSet Learning Wikis ===
 +
 +
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Separable_verb Separable verb] (Chinese Grammar Wiki)
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===

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