完

wán

元 + 宀

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

wán (verb) to finish; to complete

wán (adjective) whole; complete; entire

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 元 represents the sound. The 宀 component is used because putting on a roof completes the process of constructing a building.

Semantic: 宀 Phonetic: 元

About

完 is a phono-semantic compound: 宀 (roof) conveys the meaning, while 元 (yuán) supplies the sound. The roof component was chosen because placing a roof marks the completion of a building, giving the character its original sense of "complete, intact, whole". Over time, the meaning expanded from physical wholeness to abstract completion, finishing tasks or bringing actions to a close. Today, 完 most often functions as a verb or complement signaling that an event or state has been exhausted, concluded, or successfully carried out.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我写完作业了。

Wǒ xiě wán zuòyè le.

I have finished writing my homework.

他吃完饭了。

Tā chī wán fàn le.

He has finished eating his meal.

这本书我看完了。

Zhè běn shū wǒ kàn wán le.

I have finished reading this book.

我们的工作还没完成。

Wǒmen de gōngzuò hái méi wánchéng.

Our work is not yet completed.

请完成这个表格。

Qǐng wánchéng zhège biǎogé.

Please complete this form.

彻底完成这项工程需要三年。

Chèdǐ wánchéng zhè xiàng gōngchéng xūyào sān nián.

It will take three years to completely finish this project.

完善后的系统运行良好。

Wánshàn hòu de xìtǒng yùnxíng liánghǎo.

The system runs well after being improved.

若不完备，则需修改。

Ruò bù wánbèi, zé xū xiūgǎi.

If it is not complete and perfect, then revisions are needed.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 元

Component: 宀

完