Kilo Lingo

Mandarin · Chapter 14 · Lesson 9 · Common mistake

看 or 看见?

One is trying. The other is succeeding.

The rule

看 (kan4) is the ACT of looking, and it may fail. 看见 (kan4-jian4) is the RESULT: you actually saw it. Mandarin marks the difference with a resultative ending where English changes the verb entirely, from look to see.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right one: 看 or 看见.

  1. 我了，但是什么都没有。 (I looked, but there was nothing)

    wǒ ___ liǎo ， dàn shì shén me dōu méi yǒu 。 (I looked, but there was nothing)

  2. 我他了。 (I saw him)

    wǒ ___ tā le 。 (I saw him)

  3. 你在什么？ (what are you looking at?)

    nǐ zài ___ shén me ？ (what are you looking at?)

  4. 你我的东西了吗？ (have you seen my things?)

    nǐ ___ wǒ de dōng xī le ma ？ (have you seen my things?)

  5. 他喜欢书。 (he likes reading)

    tā xǐ huān ___ shū 。 (he likes reading)

  6. 我没。 (I did not see it)

    wǒ méi ___。 (I did not see it)