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March 24, 2026
完wán(wan2)
The character 完 (wán) means 'to finish' or 'to complete.' It is commonly used to indicate that an action has been completed or that something is whole and entire, such as finishing a task or a project. This word is often found in both spoken and written contexts, making it versatile for various situations.
Strokes7Radical宀Frequency#319DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, completing tasks is often associated with diligence and responsibility. The concept of finishing something properly is highly valued, reflecting a cultural emphasis on perseverance and thoroughness in work and studies.
Memory Tip
Think of 完 (wán) as a finish line in a race where runners complete their journey. The character resembles a roof (the top) above a base, symbolizing something that is whole, as if the roof completes the house. Visualize reaching the finish line and raising your hands in triumph, exclaiming '完!'
Meanings of 完
wán(wan2)
1to finish
2to be over
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 完
完Simplified
7Strokes
宀Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#319Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 完
Podcast: 完
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AI Study Notes for 完
Quick Contrast
完成 (wánchéng) vs 完成 (wánchéng) — use 完 (wán) for a more general sense of finishing without the implication of achieving a specific goal.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 完 (wán) with 了 (le), which is used to indicate a completed action in a different context. This character is more formal and is frequently used in written language, while in spoken language, colloquial alternatives might be preferred. Common collocations include '完成任务' (wánchéng rènwu) meaning 'to complete a task.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 完 (wán) connects with other basic action verbs that describe completing or finishing something. Students should focus on its usage with other verbs and nouns to express completion, such as '完成' (wánchéng) for completing tasks and '结束' (jiéshù) for ending events.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 完 when they should use 结束 (jiéshù) to indicate the end of an event, such as saying '会议完了' instead of '会议结束了' (huìyì jiéshùle) meaning 'the meeting is over.' It's essential to choose the right word based on context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 完
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 元 represents the sound. The 宀 component is used because putting on a roof completes the process of constructing a building.
Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 元 represents the sound. The 宀 component is used because putting on a roof completes the process of constructing a building.
1The meaning half宀 carries the sense.
2The sound half元 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayroof
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 完? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 完?
Decomposition of 完
IDS Structure⿱宀元
完Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
元Yuan2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 完?
How to say to finish in Chinese
“to finish” in Chinese is完wán
The character 完 (wán) means 'to finish' or 'to complete.' It is commonly used to indicate that an action has been completed or that something is whole and entire, such as finishing a task or a project. This word is often found in both spoken and written contexts, making it versatile for various situations.
When to use 完
Be careful not to confuse 完 (wán) with 了 (le), which is used to indicate a completed action in a different context. This character is more formal and is frequently used in written language, while in spoken language, colloquial alternatives might be preferred. Common collocations include '完成任务' (wánchéng rènwu) meaning 'to complete a task.'
完 or something close to it
完成 (wánchéng) vs 完成 (wánchéng) — use 完 (wán) for a more general sense of finishing without the implication of achieving a specific goal.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 完 when they should use 结束 (jiéshù) to indicate the end of an event, such as saying '会议完了' instead of '会议结束了' (huìyì jiéshùle) meaning 'the meeting is over.' It's essential to choose the right word based on context.
Write 完
完
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Grammar Patterns of 完
完 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 6 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.
