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

 
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Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) mean "to see" or “to visit” and sometimes can be used interchangeably.  
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Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) are often used in informal and formal settings to mean “to meet” or “to see someone”. 见 (jiàn) can also mean to “meet up with” someone, while 看 (kàn) can also mean to watch, to read, or to look at, and even has a special use for visiting the doctor.  
  
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
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{{SimilarWordsCol1||jiàn|to meet someone|verb|flexible}}
<tr>
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{{SimilarWordsCol2||kàn|to watch, to read, to look at, to visit|verb|flexible}}
<th style="width:24%"> </th>
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{{SimilarWordsPageInfo|A2|HSK2|ASV4567}}
<th style="width:33%">(jiàn)</th>
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{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
<th style="width:33%">(kàn)</th>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Meaning</th><td>emphasizes see or meet</td><td class="liju">emphasizes "look at" or visit</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>
 
  
== Similarities ==
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== To say "to read," "to watch," or "to look at" use 看 (kàn)  ==
 +
 
 +
To describe a situation in which someone is reading a book, watching TV, taking in a sporting event or performance online or in person, or even enjoying the scenery only 看 (kàn) can be used, meaning "to watch" or "to look at."
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
  
These phrases work with both 见 (jiàn) AND 看 (kàn):
+
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
 
 +
* <em>看</em> 书<span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em> shū</span><span class="trans">to read a book</span>
 +
* <em>看</em> 电影<span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em> diànyǐng</span><span class="trans">to watch a movie</span>
 +
* <em>看</em> 手机<span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em>shǒujī</span><span class="trans">to look at one's phone</span>
 +
* <em>看</em> 风景<span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em>fēngjǐng</span><span class="trans">to enjoy the  scenery</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Example Sentences ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 我 很 喜欢 <em>看</em> <strong>书</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn xǐhuan <em>kàn</em> <strong>shū</strong>.</span><span class="trans"> I really like to read books.</span>
 +
* 昨天 我 去 <em>看</em> <strong>电影</strong> 了。 <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ qù <em>kàn</em> <strong>diànyǐng</strong> le.</span><span class="trans"> Yesterday I went to see a movie.</span>
 +
* 他 不 想 工作,他 想 <em>看</em> <strong>手机</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Tā bù xiǎng gōngzuò, tā xiǎng <em>kàn</em> <strong>shǒujī</strong>.</span><span class="trans"> He doesn't want to work. He wants to look at his phone.</span>
 +
* 我 喜欢 旅游,因为 我 想 <em>看</em> <strong>风景</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan lǚyóu, yīnwèi wǒ xiǎng <em>kàn</em> <strong>fēngjǐng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I like to travel because I want to see the scenery.</span>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== To say "to meet up with" someone use 见 (jiàn) ==
 +
 
 +
=== Set Phrases ===
 +
 
 +
Meeting up (i.e., getting together, a rendezvous) with someone is often used in fixed phrases, often resembling the English pattern “see you tomorrow”, “see you next time”, etc.
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* 明天 <em>见</em><span class="pinyin">míngtiān <em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">See you tomorrow</span>
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* <em>见</em>面<span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em>miàn</span><span class="trans">to meet</span>
 +
* 好久不<em>见</em><span class="pinyin">hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn<em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">Long time no see</span>
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</div>
 +
 
 +
For more on 见面, see [[Comparing "jian" and "jianmian"]].
 +
 
 +
=== Common Phrases ===
  
* 去~你
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If you want to describe a situation in which you go and see someone in person, you also use 见 (jiàn).
* 去~朋友
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* ~老师
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<div class="liju dapei">
* ~家人
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* ~到了
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* <em>见</em> 朋友<span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em> péngyou</span><span class="trans"> go see friend </span>
* ~到他了
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* ~不到
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</div>
* ~不到你们
 
  
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
=== Example Sentences ===
  
In the following sentences, 见(jiàn )AND 看(kàn)both can be used interchangeably:
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While 见 (jiàn) is used in fixed phrases to mean “meeting up”, it can also be independently to mean “meet up” in the sense of have an encounter or have interaction with someone.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我去 <em></em> 你。
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* 今天 晚上 我 去 <em>见</em> <strong>朋友</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ qù <em>jiàn</em> <strong>péngyou</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Tonight I'm going to see a friend.</span>
* 张老师来我们家 <em>见</em> 我们。
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* 我们 <strong>下 星期</strong> <em>见</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>xià xīngqī</strong><em> jiàn </em>.</span><span class="trans">We'll see each other next week.</span>
* <em></em> 到了。
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* <strong>好 久 不</strong> <em>见</em>,你 最近 好 吗? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Hǎo jiǔ bù</strong> <em>jiàn</em>, nǐ zuìjìn hǎo ma?</span><span class="trans">It's been a long time. How have you been?</span>
* 小李 <em></em> 到我们。
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* 他 今天 很 忙 , <strong>没 时间</strong><em></em> 你 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā jīntiān hěn máng, <strong>méi shíjiān</strong> <em> jiàn </em> nǐ le.</span><span class="trans">He's very busy today and won't have time to see you.</span>
* 广场的人太多,小刘还没 <em>见</em> 到你,你喊他一下吧。
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* 今天 不 能 和 你 一起 去 吃饭 了,我 要 去 <em>见</em> <strong>客户</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān bù néng hé nǐ yīqǐ qù chīfàn le, wǒ yào qù<em>jiàn</em> <strong>kèhù</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I can't go to dinner with you today, I have to meet a client.</span>
* 昨天在买东西的时候,我们 <em></em> 到校长。
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* 我 没有 <em>见</em> 过 <strong>他</strong>,不 知道 他 是 谁。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méiyǒu <em> jiàn </em> guo <strong>tā</strong>, bù zhīdào tā shì shéi.</span><span class="trans">I haven't met him, I don't know who he is.</span>
* 虽然我们俩都在成都,但是我很忙,没时间 <em>见</em> 他。
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* 那个 女孩儿 很 好,<em>见</em> 过 <strong>她</strong> 的 人 都 很 喜欢 <strong>tā</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Nàge nǚháir hěn hǎo, <em> jiàn </em> guo tā de rén dōu hěn xǐhuan tā.</span><span class="trans">That girl is very nice, everyone who has met her likes her.</span>
* 我们今天去南京 <em>见</em> 朋友。
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* <strong>三 年 不</strong> <em>见</em>, 他 的 变化 很 大 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Sān nián bù</strong> <em> jiàn </em>, tā de biànhuà hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">He has changed a lot in the three years since I saw him.</span>
* 我们要利用暑假去 <em></em> 家人。
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</div>
  
 +
== To say "to visit the doctor" use 看 (kàn)  ==
 +
 +
Although this is a special use of 看 (kàn), it pretty easy to understand. If you have an appointment with the doctor or need to pay a visit to the doctor because of sickness use 看 (kàn).
 +
 +
=== Set Phrases ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* <em>看</em> 病<span class="pinyin"><em>kàn</em> bìng</span><span class="trans">to go see a doctor</span>
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* <em>看</em> 医生<span class="pinyin"><em>kàn</em> yīshēng</span><span class="trans">to go see a doctor</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Differences ==
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=== Example Sentences ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
  
见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) also have specific individual uses.  
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* 他 身体 有点 不舒服,他 明天 去 <em>看</em> <strong>病</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā shēntǐ yǒudiǎn bù shūfu, tā míngtiān qù <em>kàn</em> <strong> bìng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">He's not feeling well and he's going to the doctor tomorrow.</span>
 +
* 我 昨天 去 <em></em> <strong>医生</strong> 了。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān qù <em>kàn</em> <strong> yīshēng </strong> le.</span><span class="trans">I went to see the doctor yesterday.</span>
 +
</div>
  
(jiàn) is used in certain (set) phrases and means to “see someone” at a certain time in the future.
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== To say "to visit" someone (socially) use 看 (kàn) ==
  
看 (kàn) is in phrases used to mean “to look at” (scenery, landscape etc.) "to watch", “to read”, “to see (have an appointment with) the doctor”, and “to take into consideration”.
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If you want to describe a situation in which you visit someone, as in going on a vacation to see relatives or visiting someone in their home to catch up, etc. use 看 (kàn). These imply the purpose of the visit includes inquiries into someone else’s health and well-being. 
 +
 
 +
Look above (specifically 见 (jiàn) used in the sense of “to meet someone”) and you can see that here 看 (kàn) and 见 (jiàn)’s use and example sentences are all very similar; just remember, using 看 (kàn) emphasizes a visit and includes a taking into consideration someone else’s health and well-being, and that in this context 看 (kàn) is not as commonly used as 见 (jiàn).
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
  
These (set) phrases work ONLY with 见(jiàn):
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<div class="liju dapei">
  
* 一会儿~
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* 去 看 你 <span class="pinyin">qù kàn nǐ</span><span class="trans">to go visit you</span>
* 晚上~
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* 看 家人<span class="pinyin">kàn jiārén</span><span class="trans">to visit family</span>
* 明天~
 
* 明年~
 
* 下次~
 
  
These phrases work ONLY with 看(kàn):
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</div>
 
 
* ~风景
 
* ~电影
 
* ~电视
 
* ~求
 
* ~书
 
* ~报纸
 
* ~病
 
* ~情况
 
  
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
=== Example Sentences ===
  
In the following sentences, ONLY “见”(jiàn)can be used:
+
<div class="liju">
  
<div class="liju">
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* 我 暑假 <strong>去</strong> <em>看</em> 家人。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ shǔjià <strong> qù </strong> <em> kàn </em> jiārén.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to see my family in the summer.</span>
* 我们 <em>明天见</em>
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* 我们 今天 <strong>去</strong> 南京 <em></em> 朋友。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen jīntiān <strong> qù </strong> Nánjīng <em> kàn </em> péngyou.</span><span class="trans">tWe are going to Nanjing today to see our friends.</span>
* 我现在就出发了, <em>一会儿见</em>
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* 明天 我 <strong>去</strong> <em>看</em> 你。 <span class="pinyin">Míngtiān wǒ <strong> qù </strong> <em> kàn </em> nǐ.</span><span class="trans">Tomorrow I will go to see you.</span>
* 下午太热了,我们 <em>晚上见</em>,好吗?
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* 我 听说 她 最近 不开心,我 想 <strong>去</strong> <em>看</em> 她。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ tīngshuō tā zuìjìn bù kāixīn, wǒ xiǎng <strong> qù </strong> <em> kàn </em> tā.</span><span class="trans">I heard that she is not happy lately and I want to go to see her.</span>
 +
* 张老师 <strong>没有</strong> <strong>来</strong> 我们 家 <em></em> 我们。 <span class="pinyin">Zhāng lǎoshī <strong> méiyǒu </strong> <strong> lái </strong> wǒmen jiā <em> kàn </em> wǒmen.</span><span class="trans">Teacher Zhang didn't come to see us at home.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
In the following sentences, ONLY “看”(kàn)can be used:
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== 看见 (kànjiàn) means "to see" ==
 +
 
 +
In the word 看见 (kànjiàn), 看 (kàn) means "to look at," but is combined with the result complement 见 (jiàn), which is not the same as the verb 见, detailed above. 看见 (kànjiàn) means "to see." It is equivalent to the word 看到 (kàndào).
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我喜欢 <em></em> 风景。
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* <em>看见</em> 了 一 只 猫。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em> kànjiàn </em> le yī zhǐ māo.</span><span class="trans">I saw a cat.</span>
* 在旅游的时候,我们最喜欢的是 <em></em> 风景,不怎么喜欢爬山,参观博物馆什么的。
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* 不 好意思,我 <strong>没有</strong> <em>看见</em> 你。 <span class="pinyin">Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ <strong> méiyǒu </strong> <em> kànjiàn </em> nǐ.</span><span class="trans">I'm sorry, I didn't see you.</span>
* 咱们去 <em></em> 一场电影,怎么样?
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* 昨天 我 在 超市 <em>看见</em> 了 他,但是 他 <strong>没有</strong> <em>看见</em> 我 。 <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ zài chāoshì <em> kànjiàn </em> le tā, dànshì tā <strong> méiyǒu </strong> <em> kànjiàn </em> wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I saw him at the supermarket yesterday, but he didn't see me.</span>
* 儿子在 <em></em> 书,别打扰他了。
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* 你 能 <em>看见</em> 我 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng <em> kànjiàn </em> wǒ ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you see me?</span>
* 王老师喜欢 <em></em> 球。
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</div>
* 那条消息你 <em></em> 到了吗?
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* 他爸爸身体有点不舒服,最好要去 <em></em> 病。
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For more uses of 看见 (kànjiàn) and 看到 (kàndào), be sure to check out [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complements_%22-dao%22_and_%22-jian%22 their article on the Chinese Grammar Wiki].
* 明天我不知道有没有空出去玩,<em></em> 情况吧。
 
  
</div>
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== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
 +
=== AllSet Learning Wikis ===
 +
 
 +
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complements_%22-dao%22_and_%22-jian%22 Result complements "-dao" and "-jian"] (Chinese Grammar Wiki)
 +
 
 +
=== Websites ===

Latest revision as of 08:44, 19 April 2022

Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) are often used in informal and formal settings to mean “to meet” or “to see someone”. 见 (jiàn) can also mean to “meet up with” someone, while 看 (kàn) can also mean to watch, to read, or to look at, and even has a special use for visiting the doctor.











A2HSK2ASV4567
见 (jiàn) 看 (kàn)
Meaning to meet someone to watch, to read, to look at, to visit
Part of Speech verb verb
Formality flexible flexible

To say "to read," "to watch," or "to look at" use 看 (kàn)

To describe a situation in which someone is reading a book, watching TV, taking in a sporting event or performance online or in person, or even enjoying the scenery only 看 (kàn) can be used, meaning "to watch" or "to look at."

Common Phrases

  • kàn shūto read a book
  • 电影 kàn diànyǐngto watch a movie
  • 手机 kàn shǒujīto look at one's phone
  • 风景 kàn fēngjǐngto enjoy the scenery

Example Sentences

  • 我 很 喜欢 Wǒ hěn xǐhuan kàn shū. I really like to read books.
  • 昨天 我 去 电影 了。 Zuótiān wǒ qù kàn diànyǐng le. Yesterday I went to see a movie.
  • 他 不 想 工作,他 想 手机Tā bù xiǎng gōngzuò, tā xiǎng kàn shǒujī. He doesn't want to work. He wants to look at his phone.
  • 我 喜欢 旅游,因为 我 想 风景Wǒ xǐhuan lǚyóu, yīnwèi wǒ xiǎng kàn fēngjǐng.I like to travel because I want to see the scenery.

To say "to meet up with" someone use 见 (jiàn)

Set Phrases

Meeting up (i.e., getting together, a rendezvous) with someone is often used in fixed phrases, often resembling the English pattern “see you tomorrow”, “see you next time”, etc.

  • 明天 míngtiān jiànSee you tomorrow
  • jiànmiànto meet
  • 好久不hǎo jiǔ bù jiànjiànLong time no see

For more on 见面, see Comparing "jian" and "jianmian".

Common Phrases

If you want to describe a situation in which you go and see someone in person, you also use 见 (jiàn).

  • 朋友jiàn péngyou go see friend

Example Sentences

While 见 (jiàn) is used in fixed phrases to mean “meeting up”, it can also be independently to mean “meet up” in the sense of have an encounter or have interaction with someone.

  • 今天 晚上 我 去 朋友Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ qù jiàn péngyou.Tonight I'm going to see a friend.
  • 我们 下 星期 Wǒmen xià xīngqī jiàn .We'll see each other next week.
  • 好 久 不 ,你 最近 好 吗? Hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn, nǐ zuìjìn hǎo ma?It's been a long time. How have you been?
  • 他 今天 很 忙 , 没 时间 你 了 。 Tā jīntiān hěn máng, méi shíjiān jiàn nǐ le.He's very busy today and won't have time to see you.
  • 今天 不 能 和 你 一起 去 吃饭 了,我 要 去 客户Jīntiān bù néng hé nǐ yīqǐ qù chīfàn le, wǒ yào qùjiàn kèhù.I can't go to dinner with you today, I have to meet a client.
  • 我 没有 ,不 知道 他 是 谁。Wǒ méiyǒu jiàn guo , bù zhīdào tā shì shéi.I haven't met him, I don't know who he is.
  • 那个 女孩儿 很 好, 的 人 都 很 喜欢 Nàge nǚháir hěn hǎo, jiàn guo tā de rén dōu hěn xǐhuan tā.That girl is very nice, everyone who has met her likes her.
  • 三 年 不 , 他 的 变化 很 大 。Sān nián bù jiàn , tā de biànhuà hěn dà.He has changed a lot in the three years since I saw him.

To say "to visit the doctor" use 看 (kàn)

Although this is a special use of 看 (kàn), it pretty easy to understand. If you have an appointment with the doctor or need to pay a visit to the doctor because of sickness use 看 (kàn).

Set Phrases

  • kàn bìngto go see a doctor
  • 医生kàn yīshēngto go see a doctor

Example Sentences

  • 他 身体 有点 不舒服,他 明天 去 Tā shēntǐ yǒudiǎn bù shūfu, tā míngtiān qù kàn bìng .He's not feeling well and he's going to the doctor tomorrow.
  • 我 昨天 去 医生 了。 Wǒ zuótiān qù kàn yīshēng le.I went to see the doctor yesterday.

To say "to visit" someone (socially) use 看 (kàn)

If you want to describe a situation in which you visit someone, as in going on a vacation to see relatives or visiting someone in their home to catch up, etc. use 看 (kàn). These imply the purpose of the visit includes inquiries into someone else’s health and well-being.

Look above (specifically 见 (jiàn) used in the sense of “to meet someone”) and you can see that here 看 (kàn) and 见 (jiàn)’s use and example sentences are all very similar; just remember, using 看 (kàn) emphasizes a visit and includes a taking into consideration someone else’s health and well-being, and that in this context 看 (kàn) is not as commonly used as 见 (jiàn).

Common Phrases

  • 去 看 你 qù kàn nǐto go visit you
  • 看 家人kàn jiārénto visit family

Example Sentences

  • 我 暑假 家人。 Wǒ shǔjià kàn jiārén.I'm going to see my family in the summer.
  • 我们 今天 南京 朋友。 Wǒmen jīntiān Nánjīng kàn péngyou.tWe are going to Nanjing today to see our friends.
  • 明天 我 你。 Míngtiān wǒ kàn nǐ.Tomorrow I will go to see you.
  • 我 听说 她 最近 不开心,我 想 她。 Wǒ tīngshuō tā zuìjìn bù kāixīn, wǒ xiǎng kàn tā.I heard that she is not happy lately and I want to go to see her.
  • 张老师 没有 我们 家 我们。 Zhāng lǎoshī méiyǒu lái wǒmen jiā kàn wǒmen.Teacher Zhang didn't come to see us at home.

看见 (kànjiàn) means "to see"

In the word 看见 (kànjiàn), 看 (kàn) means "to look at," but is combined with the result complement 见 (jiàn), which is not the same as the verb 见, detailed above. 看见 (kànjiàn) means "to see." It is equivalent to the word 看到 (kàndào).

  • 看见 了 一 只 猫。 kànjiàn le yī zhǐ māo.I saw a cat.
  • 不 好意思,我 没有 看见 你。 Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ méiyǒu kànjiàn nǐ.I'm sorry, I didn't see you.
  • 昨天 我 在 超市 看见 了 他,但是 他 没有 看见 我 。 Zuótiān wǒ zài chāoshì kànjiàn le tā, dànshì tā méiyǒu kànjiàn wǒ.I saw him at the supermarket yesterday, but he didn't see me.
  • 你 能 看见 我 吗? Nǐ néng kànjiàn wǒ ma?Can you see me?

For more uses of 看见 (kànjiàn) and 看到 (kàndào), be sure to check out their article on the Chinese Grammar Wiki.

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