Causal Compound: ...可见... (It Can Be Seen That / Evidently)
……，可见……
Draw conclusions from evidence or observations using 可见
Use 可见 between an observation or piece of evidence and the conclusion drawn from it. 可见 literally means "from this it can be seen" and signals that the speaker is making a logical inference based on what was described.
可见 is more commonly used in written Chinese and formal speech. It connects evidence to a conclusion, functioning similarly to "evidently," "this shows that," or "it is clear that" in English. The evidence comes first, then 可见 introduces the conclusion.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Causal Compound: ...可见... (It Can Be Seen That / Evidently) (……，可见……)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the ……，可见…… pattern
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Understanding ……，可见……
The 可见 pattern is used to draw a conclusion from evidence or observations. It literally means "can see" or "it can be seen," and it serves as a logical bridge between what you observe and what you conclude. For instance, if someone has been helping you through difficult times, you might say 他在我困难的时候一直帮助我，可见他是真正的朋友 (He has always helped me in difficult times — evidently he is a true friend). This pattern is particularly useful in argumentative writing, analysis, and formal discussion. It gives your speech or writing a logical, well-reasoned quality. While it can appear in spoken Chinese, it is more commonly found in essays, news commentary, and academic writing. Mastering 可见 will help you express analytical thinking in Chinese.
Key Points
- 可见 (kějiàn) means "from this it can be seen" or "evidently."
- The evidence or observation always comes before 可见; the conclusion comes after.
- 可见 signals a logical inference — the speaker is reasoning from evidence.
- More common in written Chinese, formal speeches, and analytical contexts.
- Can appear at the beginning of the second clause or after a comma: ……，可见……
- Similar to English "this shows that," "evidently," or "it is clear that."
Chinese academic and journalistic writing makes heavy use of 可见 to connect evidence to conclusions. In HSK essays, using 可见 demonstrates analytical ability and logical reasoning, which examiners value highly. It is also common in classical Chinese texts, where drawing inferences from observations is a respected rhetorical tradition.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
他的中文水平很高，可见他在留学期间学习是多么努力。
His Chinese level is very high — evidently he studied very hard during his time abroad.
他在我困难的时候一直帮助我，可见他是我多么好的朋友。
He has always helped me in difficult times — this shows what a good friend he is.
这么多人来参加这个活动，可见大家对这个话题非常感兴趣。
So many people came to this event — evidently everyone is very interested in this topic.
他每天都坚持跑步，可见他很注意自己的健康。
He runs every day without fail — this shows he pays great attention to his health.
连小孩子都知道这个道理，可见这是一个非常基本的常识。
Even children know this principle — it is evidently very basic common sense.
她准备了这么长时间，可见她对这次面试非常重视。
She prepared for such a long time — clearly she takes this interview very seriously.
Common Mistakes
The evidence must come before 可见, and the conclusion after. You observe the high level first, then conclude he works hard.
Do not combine 因为 with 可见. 可见 already implies causality — the evidence naturally leads to the conclusion. Also, effort is the hidden cause, Chinese level is the visible evidence.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Always put the evidence BEFORE 可见 and the conclusion AFTER — think "I see X, therefore Y."
Use 可见 in essays to sound more analytical and logical — examiners love it.
Do not confuse 可见 with 看见 (to see physically). 可见 is about logical inference, not eyesight.
Practice by observing something and stating a conclusion: [observation]，可见 [what it tells us].
Homework
Write five analytical sentences using 可见. For each, first describe an observable fact or evidence, then use 可见 to draw a logical conclusion. Topics: a friend's success, a popular restaurant, a busy city, a student's improvement, and a company's growth.