Comparing "jian" and "kan"

Revision as of 03:33, 17 August 2021 by TomConnelly (talk | contribs)

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 meetup with someone, whereas 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
  • 朋友
  • 老师
  • 家人

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 and 看 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。

Common Phrases

These common phrases only work with 见:

  • 一会儿~
  • 晚上~
  • 明天~
  • 明年~
  • 下次~

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, only 见 can be used:

  • 我们 明天见
  • 我现在就出发了, 一会儿见
  • 下午太热了,我们 晚上见,好吗?

Common Phrases

These common phrases only work with 看:

  • ~书
  • ~报纸
  • ~电影
  • ~电视
  • ~球
  • ~病
  • ~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。