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看见 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
看见
kànjiàn
to see
HSK 1, v, 13 strokes, rank #312, Easy
看见
kànjiàn
to catch sight of
HSK 1, v, 13 strokes, rank #312, Easy
kànjiàn(kan4jian4)kan jian T4
1to see
2to catch sight of
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March 24, 2026
看见(看見)kànjiàn(kan4jian4)
看见 (kànjiàn) means 'to see' or 'to catch sight of.' It is commonly used to describe the act of perceiving something visually. This word is often used in everyday contexts when discussing what one has seen or witnessed.
Strokes13Frequency#312DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the act of seeing often has deeper implications, such as gaining insight or understanding. For example, the phrase '看见真相' (kànjiàn zhēnxiàng) means 'to see the truth,' implying a revelation beyond mere sight.
Memory tip
Imagine you are looking through a pair of glasses (看) and you suddenly spot a beautiful scene (见). The character 看 has a component that resembles an eye, reminding you that it relates to seeing, while 见 reinforces the idea of sight.
Meanings of 看见
kànjiàn(kan4jian4)
1to see
2to catch sight of
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About 看见
看见Simplified
看見Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#312Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 看见
Podcast: 看见
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AI study notes for 看见
Quick Contrast
看 (kàn) vs 看见 (kànjiàn) — use 看 when focusing on the action of looking without the implication of actually perceiving something.
Usage Notes
Be careful to use 看见 only for visual perception; for experiences or emotions, other verbs may be more appropriate. It is informal, so it's suitable for everyday conversations. Remember to use the correct tone for both syllables: kàn (4th tone) and jiàn (4th tone).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 看见 connects with other basic verbs related to actions and perceptions. Focus on practicing its use in simple sentences to describe what you see in your surroundings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 看见 with other verbs related to perception. For instance, saying '我听见这个人' (Wǒ tīngjiàn zhège rén) is incorrect if you mean to say you saw the person; use '我看见这个人' (Wǒ kànjiàn zhège rén) instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 看见
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看见 (kànjiàn) means 'to see' or 'to catch sight of.' It is commonly used to describe the act of perceiving something visually. This word is often used in everyday contexts when discussing what one has seen or witnessed.
When to use 看见
Be careful to use 看见 only for visual perception; for experiences or emotions, other verbs may be more appropriate. It is informal, so it's suitable for everyday conversations. Remember to use the correct tone for both syllables: kàn (4th tone) and jiàn (4th tone).
看见 or something close to it
看 (kàn) vs 看见 (kànjiàn) — use 看 when focusing on the action of looking without the implication of actually perceiving something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 看见 with other verbs related to perception. For instance, saying '我听见这个人' (Wǒ tīngjiàn zhège rén) is incorrect if you mean to say you saw the person; use '我看见这个人' (Wǒ kànjiàn zhège rén) instead.
Write 看见
看
见
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Grammar patterns of 看见
看见 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
