Keywords: kan, 看, how to use kan in Chinese, meaning of kan, Chinese verb to see, Chinese verb to look, Chinese verb to watch, Chinese verb to read, kan vs jian, 看书, 看病, 看望, 看电视, kan shu, kan bing, kan wang, kan dianshi, HSK 1 verbs.
Summary: “看” (kàn) is one of the most fundamental and versatile verbs in Mandarin Chinese, essential for every beginner. Its core meaning is to use your eyes, covering the English concepts of “to look,” “to see,” “to watch,” and even “to read.” This page provides a deep dive into how to use “看” (kàn) in various contexts, from watching TV (看电视) and reading books (看书) to visiting friends (看望朋友) and seeing a doctor (看病). Understanding “看” is a key step to unlocking everyday Chinese conversation.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): kàn
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 1
Concise Definition: To use one's eyes to perceive something; to look, see, watch, or read.
In a Nutshell: Think of “看” (kàn) as the Swiss Army knife for your eyes in Chinese. In English, you have to choose between “look,” “see,” and “watch” based on intention and duration. In Chinese, “看” is the default verb for almost all of these actions. Whether you're glancing at your watch, binge-watching a series, or reading a novel, “看” is the word you'll use. Its meaning is made clear by the object that follows it.
Character Breakdown
The character 看 is a phono-semantic compound, but its visual components offer a beautiful and memorable story.
手 (shǒu): The top part of the character is a variation of a hand.
目 (mù): The bottom part is the character for “eye”.
The character beautifully depicts a hand (手) held over an eye (目), as if shading it from the sun to get a better view. This perfectly captures the intentional act of “looking at” or “watching” something carefully.
Cultural Context and Significance
While “看” is a simple action verb, its extended meanings reveal practical aspects of Chinese culture. Unlike the strict separation of “look,” “see,” and “watch” in English, the broadness of “看” reflects a focus on the general action rather than its subtle nuances. The specific context, not the verb itself, provides the detail.
Comparison to English: In English, “I was looking for my keys, but I didn't see them” highlights a difference between action and result. Chinese handles this by using a different word for the result: 看见 (kànjiàn). So, `看` is the process of looking, while `看见` is the result of seeing.
Cultural Actions: The use of “看” extends beyond simple sight into acts of care and judgment.
看病 (kànbìng) - “To see sickness”: This is the standard phrase for “to see a doctor.” The focus is on the doctor “looking at the illness,” reflecting a practical view of diagnosis.
看望 (kànwàng) - “To look at and hope for”: This means “to visit” someone, usually an elder, a friend, or someone who is sick. It carries a strong connotation of care, concern, and checking on someone's well-being.
我看 (wǒ kàn) - “I look”: This common phrase means “In my opinion…” or “The way I see it…”. It frames a personal opinion as a form of observation, a direct and common way to express one's viewpoint.
Practical Usage in Modern China
“看” is used constantly in daily life. Here’s how it works in different situations:
Looking, Seeing, and Watching (The most common use):
Refers to directing your eyes at something. It's neutral and can be used for a quick glance or a long stare.
Examples: `看手机 (kàn shǒujī)` - to look at a phone, `看电视 (kàn diànshì)` - to watch TV, `看电影 (kàn diànyǐng)` - to watch a movie.
Reading:
While 读 (dú) also means “to read,” “看” is more common for the general, silent act of reading.
Examples: `看书 (kàn shū)` - to read a book, `看报纸 (kàn bàozhǐ)` - to read a newspaper, `看菜单 (kàn càidān)` - to read a menu. Use `读` when you mean “to read aloud” or “to study.”
Visiting People:
This usage is full of warmth and implies care.
Examples: `我要去看我奶奶。(Wǒ yào qù kàn wǒ nǎinai.)` - I'm going to visit my grandma.
Seeing a Doctor:
This is a set phrase. You don't use other verbs for this context.
Example: `我不舒服，下午想去看病。(Wǒ bù shūfu, xiàwǔ xiǎng qù kànbìng.)` - I don't feel well, I want to see a doctor this afternoon.
Giving an Opinion:
Used colloquially at the beginning of a sentence to mean “I think…” or “In my view…”.
Example: `我看这个计划不行。(Wǒ kàn zhège jìhuà bùxíng.)` - I think this plan won't work.
Example Sentences
Example 1: (Watching)
你喜欢看电视吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ xǐhuān kàn diànshì ma?
English: Do you like to watch TV?
Analysis: A classic HSK 1 sentence. Here, “看” clearly means “to watch” because the object is “电视” (TV).
Example 2: (Reading)
我每天晚上都看一个小时的书。
Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān wǎnshàng dōu kàn yí ge xiǎoshí de shū.
English: I read a book for one hour every evening.
Analysis: “看书” (kàn shū) is the standard way to say “to read a book” (silently to oneself).
Example 3: (Looking At)
你在看什么？
Pinyin: Nǐ zài kàn shénme?
English: What are you looking at?
Analysis: The particle “在” (zài) indicates the action is in progress. This is a very common question in daily conversation.
Example 4: (Visiting)
我这个周末要去看我的朋友。
Pinyin: Wǒ zhège zhōumò yào qù kàn wǒ de péngyǒu.
English: I'm going to visit my friend this weekend.
Analysis: Here, “看” takes on the meaning of “to visit” because the object is a person (朋友, péngyǒu). It implies social connection and care.
Example 5: (Seeing a Doctor)
他生病了，需要去看医生。
Pinyin: Tā shēngbìng le, xūyào qù kàn yīshēng.
English: He is sick and needs to go see a doctor.
Analysis: “看医生” (kàn yīshēng) or “看病” (kànbìng) are fixed expressions for “to see a doctor.”
Example 6: (Giving an Opinion)
我看今天会下雨，你带伞吧。
Pinyin: Wǒ kàn jīntiān huì xiàyǔ, nǐ dài sǎn ba.
English: I think it's going to rain today, you should bring an umbrella.
Analysis: “我看” is used here to mean “I think” or “It looks to me like…”. It's a very natural, colloquial way to introduce a judgment or prediction.
Example 7: (To Check/Take a Look)
我的手机坏了，你帮我看一下。
Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī huài le, nǐ bāng wǒ kàn yíxià.
English: My phone is broken, can you take a look for me?
Analysis: The phrase “看一下” (kàn yíxià) softens the command, making it a polite request meaning “take a quick look” or “check it out.”
Example 8: (Watching a Performance)
我们去看足球比赛吧！
Pinyin: Wǒmen qù kàn zúqiú bǐsài ba!
English: Let's go watch the soccer game!
Analysis: Similar to watching TV, “看” is used for any spectator event like a game, a concert, or a play.
Example 9: (Depends On)
这件事看情况。
Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shì kàn qíngkuàng.
English: It depends on the situation.
Analysis: This is a very useful set phrase. “看” here means “to depend on” or “to be determined by.” You can also say `看你 (kàn nǐ)` for “it's up to you.”
Example 10: (Distinguishing Look vs. See)
我看了半天，但是没看见我的钥匙。
Pinyin: Wǒ kànle bàntiān, dànshì méi kànjiàn wǒ de yàoshi.
English: I looked for a long time, but I didn't see my keys.
Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the difference between `看` (the action of looking) and `看见` (the result of seeing). This is a crucial distinction for learners.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`看 (kàn)` vs. `看见 (kànjiàn)`: This is the #1 point of confusion.
`看 (kàn)`: The process or action of looking.
`看见 (kànjiàn)`: The result of the action; you successfully saw something. `见 (jiàn)` is a resultative complement.
Incorrect: `昨天我没看你。` (Zuótiān wǒ méi kàn nǐ.) This sounds like “I didn't watch you yesterday” which is strange.
Correct: `昨天我没看见你。` (Zuótiān wǒ méi kànjiàn nǐ.) “I didn't see you yesterday.” (I was there, but the result of seeing you didn't happen).
`看 (kàn)` vs. `读 (dú)` for Reading:
`看书 (kàn shū)`: The general act of reading a book to yourself. This is the most common term.
`读书 (dú shū)`: Can mean “to read a book aloud” or, more commonly, “to study” or “to attend school.” If someone asks `你在哪儿读书？(Nǐ zài nǎr dú shū?)`, they mean “Where do you go to school?”, not “Where do you read books?”.
“Looking good” is not `看好 (kàn hǎo)`:
To say someone is “good-looking,” you use 好看 (hǎokàn). `他很好看。(Tā hěn hǎokàn.)`
The phrase `看好 (kànhǎo)` means “to be optimistic about” or “to think highly of” something's future prospects. (e.g., `我很看好这个项目。` - I'm very optimistic about this project.)
Related Terms and Concepts
看见 (kànjiàn) - To see (the successful result of looking).
好看 (hǎokàn) - Adjective meaning “good-looking,” “pretty,” or “interesting” (for a book/movie).
难看 (nánkàn) - Adjective meaning “ugly” or “embarrassing.”
看法 (kànfǎ) - Noun meaning “point of view” or “opinion.”
看病 (kànbìng) - Verb phrase meaning “to see a doctor.”
看望 (kànwàng) - Verb meaning “to visit” someone, expressing care.
瞧 (qiáo) - A more informal, colloquial verb for “to look” or “to see.” Often used in Northern China.
见 (jiàn) - Verb meaning “to see” or “to meet.” It often acts as a result complement after verbs like `看` or `听`.
读 (dú) - To read (often aloud); to study; to attend school.