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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "see" with 见 (jiàn)

    Actions & Events
    Description & Modification

    Structure

    见 + Clause

    Explanation

    The verb 见 (jiàn) means "to see" or "to perceive," and it is used to describe witnessing or noticing something happen. In narrative contexts, 见 often introduces a subsequent action prompted by what was observed, as in 见女子反抗 (seeing the woman resist).

    Examples

    • 他见她一个人在哭，就走过去安慰她。

      Tā jiàn tā yīgè rén zài kū, jiù zǒu guòqù ānwèi tā.

      Seeing her crying alone, he walked over to comfort her.

    • 我见他没回消息，就直接打了电话。

      Wǒ jiàn tā méi huí xiāoxi, jiù zhíjiē dǎ le diànhuà.

      When I saw that he hadn't replied to the message, I just called him directly.

    • 老师见学生们都到了，便开始上课。

      Lǎoshī jiàn xuéshēngmen dōu dào le, biàn kāishǐ shàngkè.

      When the teacher saw that all the students had arrived, he began the class.

    Expressing "see" with 见 (jiàn) | Chinese Grammar