HSK Guide

看 kàn — to look at, to watch, to read

kàn (fourth tone, falling)kan4

to look at, to watch, to read

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 1· Three-band, nine-level standardverb
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Meanings

  1. to look at, to watch, to read

    To direct your eyes at something. The same verb covers watching television, seeing a film and reading a book — 看书 is silent reading, while 读 is reading aloud.

    verb

  2. to visit (someone); to see (a doctor)

    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

  • 我喜欢看书。我喜歡看書。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) xǐhuan (third tone, dipping) kàn (fourth tone, falling) shū. (first tone, high and level)···

    I like reading.

  • 我们下午看电影。我們下午看電影。Wǒmen (third tone, dipping) xiàwǔ (fourth tone, falling) kàn (fourth tone, falling) diànyǐng. (fourth tone, falling)···

    We’re watching a film this afternoon.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite我读电视。

    Correct我看电视。

    Anything you take in with your eyes — television, films, books — uses 看. 读 is narrower: it means reading a text out loud.

Similar words

Words containing 看