见

見

jiàn, xiàn

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

jiàn (verb) to see; to meet

jiàn (verb) to appear to be

Etymology

Simplified form of 見. Pictograph of a person (儿) using their eye (目) to see (見).

About

见 is the simplified form of 見, a character originally composed of 目 (eye) over 儿 (person) to depict a person using their eye to see. In the simplified version, the upper part is altered, making the eye less obvious, but the core meaning of visual perception stays the same. Beyond literal seeing, the character's meanings broadened to include meeting someone, expressing an opinion, or being exposed to a situation.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我看见一只猫。

Wǒ kàn jiàn yī zhī māo.

I see a cat.

我们下午见。

Wǒmen xiàwǔ jiàn.

We'll meet in the afternoon.

他看见飞机了。

Tā kàn jiàn fēijī le.

He saw the airplane.

你想见我的朋友吗？

Nǐ xiǎng jiàn wǒ de péngyou ma?

Do you want to meet my friend?

我昨天在公园见到她。

Wǒ zuótiān zài gōngyuán jiàn dào tā.

I saw her in the park yesterday.

如果你来北京，一定要见我。

Rúguǒ nǐ lái Běijīng, yídìng yào jiàn wǒ.

If you come to Beijing, you must see me.

他很少见地迟到了。

Tā hěn shǎo jiàn de chídào le.

He was rarely late.

这件事让我见识到了人性的复杂。

Zhè jiàn shì ràng wǒ jiànshí dào le rénxìng de fùzá.

This matter made me realize the complexity of human nature.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 见

Example Words