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

 
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Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) are often used in informal and formal settings to mean to visit or to see someone. As well, both can mean to catch sight of something/someone. When used in these senses, usually they can be used interchangeably. However, 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) also have distinct individual uses, as 见 (jiàn) can also mean to meet up with someone, while 看 (kàn) can also mean to watch, to read, or to look at.
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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>to visit, to see someone, to catch sight of, to meet up</td><td class="liju">to visit, to see someone, to catch sight of, to watch, to read, to look at</td>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Part of Speech</th><td>verb</td><td class="liju">verb</td>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Formality</th><td>flexible</td><td class="liju">flexible</td>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
  
== To say to read, to watch, or look at use 看 (kàn)  ==
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== To say "to read," "to watch," or "to look at" use 看 (kàn)  ==
  
This one is pretty clear, to describe a situation in which someone is reading a book, watching tv, taking in a sporting event or performance on tv or in person, or even enjoying the scenery only 看 (kàn) can be used.
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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 ===
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
* 看书
+
 
* 看杂志
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* <em>看</em> 书<span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em> shū</span><span class="trans">to read a book</span>
* 看电视
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* <em>看</em> 电影<span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em> diànyǐng</span><span class="trans">to watch a movie</span>
* 看电影
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* <em>看</em> 手机<span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em>shǒujī</span><span class="trans">to look at one's phone</span>
* 看风景
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* <em>看</em> 风景<span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em>fēngjǐng</span><span class="trans">to enjoy the  scenery</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
Line 36: Line 24:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 儿子在 <em>看</em> 书,别打扰他了。
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* 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>
* 你喜欢 <em>看</em> 电视吗?
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* 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>
* 咱们去 <em></em> 一场电影,怎么样?
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* 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>
* 王老师喜欢 <em>看</em> 球。
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* 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>
* 咱们去 <em></em> 一场电影,怎么样?
 
* 周末要不要去剧院 <em>看</em> 演出?
 
* 我喜欢 <em></em> 风景。
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== To say to visit someone use (kàn) ==
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== To say "to meet up with" someone use (jiàn) ==
  
If you want to describe a situation in which you visit someone, as in going on a vacation to see relatives, visiting someone’s home to catch up, etc. use 看 (kàn).
+
=== Set Phrases ===
  
=== Common Phrases ===
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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.  
 
 
Look below and you can see that here 看 (kàn) and 见 (jiàn)’s use is very similar; just remember, using 看 (kàn) emphasizes to visit.
 
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
* <em></em> 家人
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* 明天 <em></em><span class="pinyin">míngtiān <em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">See you tomorrow</span>
* <em></em> 朋友
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* <em></em>面<span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em>miàn</span><span class="trans">to meet</span>
* <em></em> 老师
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* 好久不<em></em><span class="pinyin">hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn<em>jiàn</em></span><span class="trans">Long time no see</span>
* <em></em> <span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em> </span><span class="trans"> go visit you </span>
 
 
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
<div class="liju">
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For more on 见面, see [[Comparing "jian" and "jianmian"]].
* 我们要利用暑假去 <em>看</em> 家人。
 
* 我们今天去南京 <em>看</em> 朋友。
 
* 我去 <em>看</em> 你。
 
* 张老师来我们家 <em>看</em> 我们。
 
  
</div>
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=== Common Phrases ===
  
== To say to see someone use 见 (jiàn) ==
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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).
  
If you want to describe a situation in which you go and see someone use 见 (jiàn).
+
<div class="liju dapei">
 
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
 
 
Again, as you know from above, here 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn)’s use is very similar; just keep in mind that using 见 (jiàn) emphasizes to see.
 
  
<div class="liju dapei">
+
* <em>见</em> 朋友<span class="pinyin"><em>jiàn</em> péngyou</span><span class="trans"> go see friend </span>
* <em>见</em> 家人
 
* <em>见</em> 朋友
 
* <em>见</em> 老师
 
* 去 <em>见</em> 你 <span class="pinyin"><em> kàn </em> </span><span class="trans"> go visit you </span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
=== 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.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 今天 晚上 我 去 <em>见</em> 朋友 。  
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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>
 
+
* 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>
 +
* <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>
 +
* 他 今天 很 忙 , <strong>没 时间</strong><em>见</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>
 +
* 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>
 +
* 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>
 +
* 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>
 +
* <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>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== To say to meet up with someone use (jiàn) ==
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== To say "to visit the doctor" use (kàn) ==
  
=== Common Phrases ===
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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).
  
Meeting up with someone is often used in fixed phrases.
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=== Set Phrases ===
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
* 明天见
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* <em>看</em> 病<span class="pinyin"><em>kàn</em> bìng</span><span class="trans">to go see a doctor</span>
* 下次加
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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>
* 晚上见
 
* 一会儿见
 
* 明年见
 
* 好久不见
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
While 见 (jiàn) is used in fixed phrases to mean “meet up”, it can also be used to mean “meet up” in the sense of have an encounter or have interaction with someone.
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 好久 不 <em>见</em>!
 
* 我们 下 星期 <em>见</em>。
 
* 他 今天 非常 忙 , 没 时间 <em>见</em> 你 了 。
 
* 虽然我们俩都在成都,但是我很忙,没时间 <em>见</em> 他。
 
* 十 年 没 <em>见</em> 他 , 他 的 变化 很 大 。
 
* 那个 女孩儿 很 好,<em>见</em> 过 她 的 人 都 很 喜。
 
  
 +
* 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>看</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>
 
</div>
  
 +
== To say "to visit" someone (socially) use 看 (kàn)  ==
  
Remember, in the sense of “to visit/see someone“ 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) can be used interchangeably. In the following sentences, '''both''' 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) can be used. Again, using 见 (jiàn) emphasizes “to see”, while 看 (kàn) emphasizes “to visit”.  
+
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.
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 我去 <em>看</em> 你。
 
* 张老师来我们家 <em>见</em> 我们。
 
* 虽然我们俩都在成都,但是我很忙,没时间 <em>见</em> 他。
 
* 我们今天去南京 <em>见</em> 朋友。
 
* 我们要利用暑假去 <em>看</em> 家人。
 
 
 
</div>
 
  
== To say to catch sight of something/someone both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) can be used interchangeably and have the same meaning ==
+
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 ===
  
In these common phrases, both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) can be used interchangeably and both mean to catch sight of something/someone.
+
<div class="liju dapei">
  
<div class="liju dapei">
+
* 去 看 你 <span class="pinyin">qù kàn nǐ</span><span class="trans">to go visit you</span>
* <em>见</em> 到了
+
* 看 家人<span class="pinyin">kàn jiārén</span><span class="trans">to visit family</span>  
* <em></em> 到他了
 
* <em></em> 不到
 
* <em></em> 不到你们
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
In the following sentences, both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) can be used interchangeably and to mean to catch sight of something/someone.
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 <em>看</em> 到了。
+
* 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>
* 小李 <em>看</em> 到我们。
+
* 我们 今天 <strong>去</strong> 南京 <em>看</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>
* 广场的人太多,小刘还没 <em></em> 到你,你喊他一下吧。
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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>
* 昨天在买东西的时候,我们 <em>看</em> 到校长。
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* 我 听说 她 最近 不开心,我 想 <strong>去</strong> <em></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>看</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>
  
=== Common Phrases ===
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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).
  
These common phrases '''only''' work with 看:
+
<div class="liju">
 +
* 我 <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>
 +
* 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>
 +
* 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>
 +
* 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>
 +
</div>
  
* ~书
+
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].
* ~电视
 
* ~医生
 
* ~风景
 
* ~情况
 
  
=== Example Sentences ===
+
== Sources and further reading ==
  
In the following sentences, '''only''' 看 can be used:
+
=== AllSet Learning Wikis ===
  
<div class="liju">
+
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complements_%22-dao%22_and_%22-jian%22 Result complements "-dao" and "-jian"] (Chinese Grammar Wiki)
* 我喜欢 <em>看</em> 风景。
 
* 在旅游的时候,我们最喜欢的是 <em>看</em> 风景,不怎么喜欢爬山,参观博物馆什么的。
 
* 咱们去 <em>看</em> 一场电影,怎么样?
 
* 儿子在 <em>看</em> 书,别打扰他了。
 
* 王老师喜欢 <em>看</em> 球。
 
* 那条消息你 <em>看</em> 到了吗?
 
* 他爸爸身体有点不舒服,最好要去 <em>看</em> 病。
 
* 明天我不知道有没有空出去玩,<em>看</em> 情况吧。
 
  
</div>
+
=== 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.

Sources and further reading

AllSet Learning Wikis

Websites