看

kān, kàn

目 + 龵

HSK 2.0Level 1

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

kàn (verb) to see; to look at; to watch

kàn (verb) to read

kàn (verb) to visit; to call on

kàn (verb) to consider; to regard as

kàn (verb) to look after; to take care of; to treat (illness)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 倝 represents the sound.

About

看 is a phonosemantic compound: the semantic component 目 (eye) anchors the meaning in the domain of seeing, while the top portion, now identical to the hand radical 龵, evolved from the phonetic 倝 (gàn). This phonetic once indicated the pronunciation, but sound changes have obscured the link. The core meaning is 'to look, see, or watch.' Over time, the range broadened to include reading, visiting, treating a patient, and considering, activities that all require focused attention akin to looking.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我正在看电视。

Wǒ zhèngzài kàn diànshì.

I am watching TV.

他喜欢看书。

Tā xǐhuān kàn shū.

He likes reading books.

我们去看电影吧。

Wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng ba.

Let's go watch a movie.

你要看清楚说明。

Nǐ yào kàn qīngchu shuōmíng.

You need to read the instructions clearly.

昨天我看了三小时电视。

Zuótiān wǒ kànle sān xiǎoshí diànshì.

Yesterday I watched TV for three hours.

在图书馆里不能大声看书。

Zài túshūguǎn lǐ bùnéng dàshēng kàn shū.

In the library, you cannot read aloud.

如果你仔细看，就会发现错误。

Rúguǒ nǐ zǐxì kàn, jiù huì fāxiàn cuòwù.

If you look carefully, you will find mistakes.

这本书被很多人看过。

Zhè běn shū bèi hěnduō rén kànguò.

This book has been read by many people.

Related Characters

Component: 目

Component: 龵

看