Comparing "jian" and "kan"
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 or to rendezvous with someone, while 看 (kàn) can also mean to watch, to read, or to look at.
| 见 (jiàn) | 看 (kàn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to visit, to see someone, to catch sight of, to meet up | to visit, to see someone, to catch sight of, to watch, to read, to look at |
| Part of Speech | verb | verb |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
Contents
To say to read or to watch use 看 (kàn)
This one is pretty clear, to describe someone who is reading a book or magazine, watching tv or a movie, or watching a sporting event or performance only 看 (kàn) can be used.
Common Phrases
- 看书
- 看杂志
- 看电视
- 看电影
- 儿子在 看 书，别打扰他了。
- 你喜欢 看 电视吗？
- 咱们去 看 一场电影，怎么样？
- 王老师喜欢 看 球。
- 周末要不要去剧院 看 演出？
To say to visit someone use 看 (kàn)
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).
Common Phrases
- 看 家人
- 看 朋友
- 看 老师
- 去 看 你 go visit/see you
- 我们要利用暑假去 看 家人。
- 我们今天去南京 见 朋友。
- 我去 看 你。
- 张老师来我们家 看 我们。
To say to see someone use 见 (jiàn)
If you want to describe a situation in which you go and see someone use 见 (jiàn).
Common Phrases
- 去 见 你 go see 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 见！
- 我们 下 星期 见 。
- 今天 晚上 我 会 去 见 朋友 。
- 十 年 没 见 他 ， 他 的 变化 很 大 。
- 他 今天 非常 忙 ， 没 时间 见 你 了 。
- 那个 女孩儿 很 好，见 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”.
- 去 看 你 go visit/see you
- 去 看 朋友
- 看 老师
- 看 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 看 你。
- 张老师来我们家 见 我们。
- 虽然我们俩都在成都，但是我很忙，没时间 见 他。
- 我们今天去南京 见 朋友。
- 我们要利用暑假去 看 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.
- 见 到了
- 看 到他了
- 见 不到
- 看 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.
- 我 看 到了。
- 小李 看 到我们。
- 广场的人太多，小刘还没 见 到你，你喊他一下吧。
- 昨天在买东西的时候，我们 看 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 看 风景。
- 在旅游的时候，我们最喜欢的是 看 风景，不怎么喜欢爬山，参观博物馆什么的。
- 咱们去 看 一场电影，怎么样？
- 儿子在 看 书，别打扰他了。
- 王老师喜欢 看 球。
- 那条消息你 看 到了吗？
- 他爸爸身体有点不舒服，最好要去 看 病。
- 明天我不知道有没有空出去玩，看 情况吧。
