看见/看見 kànjiàn — to see, to catch sight of

Meanings

1. 1

   to see, to catch sight of

   To actually see something, as opposed to merely looking. 看 is the act of looking; the added 见 reports that the looking succeeded.

   verb

Character breakdown

• 看

  kàn (fourth tone, falling) kān (first tone, high and level)

  to look at, to watch, to read; to consider, to regard; to visit; to consult (a doctor); (kān) to look after, to keep watch over

  9 strokes⿱手目Radical 目

Example sentences

• 我看见他了。/我看見他了。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) kànjiàn (fourth tone, falling) tā (first tone, high and level) le. (neutral tone)···

  I saw him.

• 你看见我的书了吗？/你看見我的書了嗎？Nǐ (third tone, dipping) kànjiàn (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) shū (first tone, high and level) le (neutral tone) ma? (neutral tone)···

  Have you seen my book?

Common mistakes

• Not quite我看了他，可是没看见。

  Correct我看了，可是没看见他。

  看 says you directed your eyes somewhere; 看见 says you actually saw. Looking without finding is exactly 看了但没看见.

Similar words

Words containing 看

• 看kàn (fourth tone, falling)to look at, to watch, to read