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

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Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) are often used to mean to visit/see someone or to catch sight of something/someone. When used in these meanings, they can be used interchangeably. Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) are used in formal and informal settings. The key difference between these words is 见 (jiàn) can also mean to meet up, to rendezvous with someone, and 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 to mean to visit/see someone or to catch sight of something/someone. When used in these meanings, they can be used interchangeably. Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) are used in formal and informal settings. The key difference between these words is 见 (jiàn) can also mean to meet up or to rendezvous with someone, while 看 (kàn) can also mean to watch, to read, or to look at.
  
 
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Revision as of 03:36, 19 August 2021

Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) are often used to mean to visit/see someone or to catch sight of something/someone. When used in these meanings, they can be used interchangeably. Both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) are used in formal and informal settings. The key difference between these words is 见 (jiàn) can also mean to meet up or to rendezvous with someone, while 看 (kàn) can also mean to watch, to read, or to look at.

见 (jiàn) 看 (kàn)
Meaningto visit/see someone, to catch sight of something/someone, to meet upto visit/see someone, to catch sight something/someone, to watch, to read, to look at
Part of Speechverbverb
Formalityflexibleflexible

To say to visit/see someone 见 (jiàn) can be used

Common Phrases

If you want to say to visit/see someone, you can use 见 (jiàn). Using 见 (jiàn) emphasizes “to see”.

  • jiàn go see/visit you
  • 好久 不 见
  • 星期三 见

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.

  • 好久 不
  • 我们 下 星期
  • 今天 晚上 我 会 去 朋友 。
  • 十 年 没 他 , 他 的 变化 很 大 。
  • 他 今天 非常 忙 , 没 时间 你 了 。
  • 那个 女孩儿 很 好, 过 她 的 人 都 很 喜欢 她。

To say to visit/see someone 看 (kàn) can also be used

Common Phrases

If you want to say to visit/see someone, you can also use 看 (kàn). Using 看 (kàn) emphasizes “to visit”.

  • kàn go visit/see you
  • 朋友
  • 老师
  • 家人

Example Sentences

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”.

  • 我去 你。
  • 张老师来我们家 我们。
  • 虽然我们俩都在成都,但是我很忙,没时间 他。
  • 我们今天去南京 朋友。
  • 我们要利用暑假去 家人。

To say to catch sight of something/someone both 见 (jiàn) and 看 (kàn) can be used interchangeably and have the same meaning

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.

  • 到了
  • 到他了
  • 不到
  • 不到你们

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.

  • 到了。
  • 小李 到我们。
  • 广场的人太多,小刘还没 到你,你喊他一下吧。
  • 昨天在买东西的时候,我们 到校长。

Common Phrases

These common phrases only work with 看:

  • ~书
  • ~电视
  • ~医生
  • ~风景
  • ~情况

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, only 看 can be used:

  • 我喜欢 风景。
  • 在旅游的时候,我们最喜欢的是 风景,不怎么喜欢爬山,参观博物馆什么的。
  • 咱们去 一场电影,怎么样?
  • 儿子在 书,别打扰他了。
  • 王老师喜欢 球。
  • 那条消息你 到了吗?
  • 他爸爸身体有点不舒服,最好要去 病。
  • 明天我不知道有没有空出去玩, 情况吧。