Chinese Character: 见
1. Character Basics
Radical: 见/jiàn radical (见字旁)
Stroke Count: 4
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiàn (fourth tone)
3. Meaning
see, meet, observe, perceive
4. Common Words
- 看见 (kàn jiàn) - see, catch sight of
- 见面 (jiàn miàn) - meet, see each other
- 听见 (tīng jiàn) - hear
- 意见 (yì jiàn) - opinion, view
- 发现 (fā xiàn) - discover, find
- 遇见 (yù jiàn) - meet, come across
5. Grammar & Usage
见 is a verb that means "to see" or "to meet". It is one of the most basic and commonly used verbs in Chinese.
When used as a verb meaning "to see", 见 typically follows the structure: Subject + 见 + Object. For example: "我看见他了" (Wǒ kàn jiàn tā le) - "I saw him" (literally "I see him already").
见 can also be used in the sense of "to meet" with the structure: Subject + 见 + Object. For example: "我们明天见面" (Wǒmen míngtiān jiàn miàn) - "We'll meet tomorrow" (literally "We tomorrow meet face").
In more formal contexts, 见 can be used to mean "to appear" or "to be visible". For example: "他的名字见报了" (Tā de míngzi jiàn bào le) - "His name appeared in the newspaper" (literally "His name see newspaper already").
6. Cultural Background
The character 见 has a long history in Chinese culture. In ancient Chinese philosophy, particularly in Confucianism, the concept of 见 (seeing) is not just about physical sight but also about moral perception and understanding.
In traditional Chinese painting and poetry, 见 is often used to describe the act of observing nature and finding beauty and meaning in the world. This is related to the concept of 意境 (yì jìng), which refers to the artistic conception or emotional atmosphere conveyed in a work of art.
In Chinese society, the phrase 见面三分情 (jiàn miàn sān fēn qíng) is a common saying that means "there is affection when people meet face to face". This reflects the cultural emphasis on personal relationships and direct interaction.
The character 见 is also used in many idioms and proverbs, such as 眼见为实 (yǎn jiàn wéi shí), which means "seeing is believing" or "what one sees is real".
7. Example Sentence
句子 (jù zi): 我明天想见你。
Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Wǒ míngtiān xiǎng jiàn nǐ.
Translation (fān yì): I want to see you tomorrow.
8. Memory Tips
The character 见 has a simple structure with only 4 strokes. It looks like a person looking at something with their eyes. You can imagine the top part as the eyes and the bottom part as the face or head.
Another way to remember: 见 sounds like "jian" and is related to seeing or meeting. Think of common words like 看见 (kàn jiàn) meaning "to see" and 见面 (jiàn miàn) meaning "to meet".
The character 见 is its own radical (见字旁), which makes it easier to recognize in other characters. It's a fundamental character that you'll encounter frequently in Chinese texts and conversations.