Result complement "-wan" "完" for finishing
On its own, 完 (wán) means "to finish" or "to complete." Using it in this grammar structure, it expresses the idea of doing some action to completion.
Structure
As well as with 到 (dào) and 见 (jiàn), you can also form result complements with 完 (wán). This indicates that an action is finished or completed.
Subj. + Verb + 完 (+ 了) + Obj.
Frequently, you'll also see a 了 (le) at the end, indicating completion.
Examples
- 我 说 完 了 。
Wǒ shuō wán le.
I am finished talking.
- 你 吃 完 了 吗 ？
Nǐ chī wán le ma?
Are you done eating?
- 我 想 看 完 这个 电影 。
Wǒ xiǎng kàn wán zhège diànyǐng.
I want to finish watching the movie.
- 你 做 完 以后，就 可以 下班 了 。
Nǐ zuò wán yǐhòu, jiù kěyǐ xiàbān le.
After you finish doing it, you can get off work.
- 你 今天 可以 做 完 作业 吗？
Nǐ jīntiān kěyǐ zuò wán zuòyè ma?
Can you finish doing your homework today?
- 你 什么时候 可以 看 完 这 本 书？
Nǐ shénme shíhou kěyǐ kàn wán zhè běn shū?
When can you finish reading this book?
- 妈妈 洗 完 衣服 以后，就 去 做 晚饭 了。
Māma xǐ wán yīfu yǐhòu, jiù qù zuò wǎnfàn le.
After mom finished washing clothes, she went to cook dinner.
- 做 完 这些 作业 需要 两 个 小时 。
Zuò wán zhèxiē zuòyè xūyào liǎng gè xiǎoshí.
To finish your homework you will need two hours.
- 看 完 以后 告诉 我 。
Kàn wán yǐhòu gàosu wǒ.
Tell me when you have finished watching.
- 我们 学 完 了 一百 个 词 。
Wǒmen xué wán le yībǎi gè cí.
We have finished learning 100 words.
In English we say "I finished the movie," or "I finished supper," but in Chinese you should explicitly use the verb implied in English along with 完了 (wán le) to emphasize that you completed the action: "watch the movie (till the end)" or "eat (all my) supper."
- 我 完 了 电影。Wǒ wán le diànyǐng.
- 我看 完 了 电影 。To tell us that you watched it till the end.Wǒ kàn wán le diànyǐng.I finished watching the movie.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 273-84)
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 97-9)
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (p. 42)
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (p. 86)
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 152-3)
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 87-8)
- Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (pp. 186-7)