🧐 看 kàn vs. 看见 kànjiàn – What’s the Difference?

🧐 看 kàn vs. 看见 kànjiàn – What’s the Difference?

📝 看 kàn vs 看见 kànjiàn

Ever wondered if you’re using 看 (kàn) and 看见 (kànjiàn) correctly? These two words may look similar, but they have different meanings. 

Let’s clear up the confusion today!

🔍  Breakdown

  • 看 (kàn): To look, watch, or read (focuses on the action).
  • 看见 (kànjiàn): To see or notice (focuses on the result).

💬  Examples

看 (kàn):

    • 我喜欢看电视。Wǒ xǐhuan kàn diànshì。 ➔ I like watching TV.
    • 他在看地图。Tā zài kàn dìtú。 ➔ He is looking at the map.

    看见 (kànjiàn):

    • 我看见他了。Wǒ kànjiàn tā le。 ➔ I saw him.
    • 你看见我的钥匙了吗？Nǐ kànjiàn wǒ de yàoshi le ma? ➔ Did you see my keys?

    💡  Tip

    📌 Use 看 (kàn) when you talk about the action itself (like reading or watching something).

    📌 Use 看见 (kànjiàn) when talking about seeing. It’s not just about looking—it’s about the result of seeing something successfully.

    🧠  Interactive Practice

    Choose the correct word: 看 (kàn) or 看见 (kànjiàn)


    1. 我昨天___了她。 (Wǒ zuótiān ___ le tā。)

    ✅ Correct answer: 看见 (kànjiàn) – It emphasizes that you successfully saw her.


    2. 你喜欢___书吗？ (Nǐ xǐhuan ___ shū ma?)

    ✅ Correct answer: 看 (kàn) – It refers to the action of reading or watching.


    3. 你___我的包了吗？ (Nǐ ___ wǒ de bāo le ma?)

    ✅ Correct answer: 看见 (kànjiàn) – You are asking if someone saw your bag, focusing on the result.

    ✍🏻  Summary

    • 📌 看 (kàn) focuses on action.
    • 📌 看见 (kànjiàn) emphasizes the outcome.

    Understanding 看 (kàn) and 看见 (kànjiàn) will help you communicate clearly and naturally. 

    Keep practicing these words, and you'll quickly 看见 improvement!