====== tànwàng: 探望 - To Visit (someone) ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** tanwang, 探望, tànwàng, meaning of tanwang, how to use tanwang, visit someone in Chinese, visit sick person Chinese, Chinese word for visit, 探望 vs 看, visit parents Chinese, formal visit Chinese.
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of **探望 (tànwàng)**, a key Chinese verb for "to visit". Unlike a casual drop-by, `tànwàng` implies a special-purpose visit driven by care, concern, or respect, such as visiting an elderly relative, a sick friend in the hospital, or a teacher you haven't seen in a long time. This page breaks down its cultural significance, practical usage, and how it differs from similar words like `看 (kàn)`.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** tànwàng
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To visit someone, typically out of care, concern, or respect.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **探望 (tànwàng)** as a "visit with a purpose." It's not for a casual hangout. It's the word you use when you make a specific trip to check on someone's well-being. It carries a warm and formal feeling, showing that you value the person you are visiting. This is the act of visiting your grandparents in their hometown, checking on a colleague after surgery, or paying respects to a former mentor.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **探 (tàn):** This character means "to explore," "to probe," or "to find out." The hand radical `扌` on the left suggests an action done with hands, a deliberate seeking.
  * **望 (wàng):** This character means "to gaze into the distance," "to look toward," or "to hope." It paints a picture of someone standing and looking far away, full of expectation.
  * **Combined Meaning:** The characters together create a powerful image: to deliberately go forth (`探`) to see someone you have been thinking of from afar (`望`). It captures the essence of making a special journey, big or small, to check on another person's welfare.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
**探望 (tànwàng)** is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese culture, reflecting the importance of relationships and social obligations.
In the West, "visiting" can be a very casual affair. In China, a `探望` visit is a more significant, ritualized event that reinforces social bonds. It's a tangible expression of core values like:
  * **Filial Piety (孝, xiàoshùn):** Children are expected to `探望` their parents and grandparents regularly, especially during holidays like the Spring Festival. This is not just a nice thing to do; it's a fundamental duty that demonstrates respect and care for one's elders.
  * **Group Cohesion and Guanxi (关系):** To `探望` a sick colleague, a boss, or a friend who has suffered a setback is to maintain and strengthen your `关系` (guānxi), or social network. It shows you are a reliable and caring member of the group.
  * **The Importance of Gifts:** A `探望` visit is rarely empty-handed. It is customary to bring a small gift (`礼物, lǐwù`), such as a basket of fruit, a carton of milk, or nutritional supplements. This gift isn't a payment, but a token of your good wishes and sincerity. For a Western learner, this is a crucial point: showing up without a small gift when you `探望` someone (especially the sick or elderly) can be seen as impolite.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**探望 (tànwàng)** is a common and important verb used in specific, heartfelt contexts.
  * **Visiting Family and Elders:** This is its most common use. You `探望` family you don't see every day.
    * //e.g., 我下周末要回老家**探望**爷爷奶奶。// (Wǒ xià zhōumò yào huí lǎojiā **tànwàng** yéye nǎinai.) - I'm going back to my hometown next weekend to visit my grandparents.
  * **Visiting the Sick or Those in Need:** This is the second most common scenario. When someone is in the hospital, recovering at home, or has experienced a personal tragedy, you go to `探望` them to offer support.
    * //e.g., 我们应该组织一下，一起去医院**探望**王老师。// (Wǒmen yīnggāi zǔzhī yīxià, yīqǐ qù yīyuàn **tànwàng** Wáng lǎoshī.) - We should organize a time to go visit Teacher Wang together at the hospital.
  * **Formal and Respectful Visits:** It can be used for visiting someone of a higher status or whom you deeply respect, like a former professor or mentor.
    * //e.g., 毕业十年了，我们想找个时间去**探望**大学的辅导员。// (Bìyè shí nián le, wǒmen xiǎng zhǎo ge shíjiān qù **tànwàng** dàxué de fǔdǎoyuán.) - It's been ten years since graduation, we want to find a time to visit our university counselor.
The connotation is always positive, respectful, and warm. It is more formal than a casual "get-together."
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我每个月都至少去**探望**一次外婆。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ měi ge yuè dōu zhìshǎo qù **tànwàng** yī cì wàipó.
    * English: I go to visit my maternal grandmother at least once a month.
    * Analysis: This shows a regular, dutiful visit to an elderly family member, a classic use of `探望`.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 听说你生病了，我特地来看看你，**探望**一下。
    * Pinyin: Tīngshuō nǐ shēngbìng le, wǒ tèdì lái kànkan nǐ, **tànwàng** yīxià.
    * English: I heard you were sick, so I came especially to see you and check on you.
    * Analysis: The phrase `探望一下` (tànwàng yīxià) softens the formality slightly, making it sound warm and personal. `特地` (tèdì - especially) reinforces the deliberate nature of the visit.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 老板下午要去医院**探望**受伤的员工。
    * Pinyin: Lǎobǎn xiàwǔ yào qù yīyuàn **tànwàng** shòushāng de yuángōng.
    * English: The boss is going to the hospital this afternoon to visit the injured employee.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates care within a workplace hierarchy. The boss visiting an employee shows concern and helps maintain good morale.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 朋友从国外回来，我明天要去机场接他，然后**探望**他的父母。
    * Pinyin: Péngyou cóng guówài huílái, wǒ míngtiān yào qù jīchǎng jiē tā, ránhòu **tànwàng** tā de fùmǔ.
    * English: My friend is coming back from abroad; I'm going to the airport to pick him up tomorrow and then visit his parents.
    * Analysis: Visiting a friend's parents is a sign of deep respect and close friendship. `探望` is the perfect word here.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 你什么时候有空？我们一起去**探望**李教授吧。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng? Wǒmen yīqǐ qù **tànwàng** Lǐ jiàoshòu ba.
    * English: When are you free? Let's go visit Professor Li together.
    * Analysis: This is a common way to propose a `探望` visit, showing respect for a teacher or mentor.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 谢谢你的**探望**，你带来的水果很新鲜。
    * Pinyin: Xièxie nǐ de **tànwàng**, nǐ dài lái de shuǐguǒ hěn xīnxiān.
    * English: Thank you for your visit. The fruit you brought is very fresh.
    * Analysis: Here, `探望` is used as a noun ("your visit"). This also highlights the cultural practice of bringing gifts.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 由于距离太远，他只能通过视频电话来**探望**家人。
    * Pinyin: Yóuyú jùlí tài yuǎn, tā zhǐ néng tōngguò shìpín diànhuà lái **tànwàng** jiārén.
    * English: Because the distance is too great, he can only visit his family via video call.
    * Analysis: This shows how the concept of `探望` is adapting to modern technology. The intent of checking in with care is still present.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 每年春节，成千上万的人们返回家乡**探望**亲人。
    * Pinyin: Měi nián Chūnjié, chéng qiān shàng wàn de rénmen fǎnhuí jiāxiāng **tànwàng** qīnrén.
    * English: Every Spring Festival, thousands upon thousands of people return to their hometowns to visit their relatives.
    * Analysis: This sentence describes a major cultural phenomenon in China, the Spring Festival travel rush, which is fundamentally driven by the need to `探望` family.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 我们不应该在病人需要休息的时候去**探望**他。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen bù yīnggāi zài bìngrén xūyào xiūxi de shíhou qù **tànwàng** tā.
    * English: We shouldn't go to visit the patient when he needs to rest.
    * Analysis: This sentence provides practical advice about the etiquette of `探望`, showing that while the visit is important, the well-being of the person being visited comes first.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 总理今天**探望**了灾区人民。
    * Pinyin: Zǒnglǐ jīntiān **tànwàng** le zāiqū rénmín.
    * English: The Premier visited the people in the disaster area today.
    * Analysis: This is a formal, official usage often seen in news reports. It conveys a sense of state-level care and concern for citizens.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`探望 (tànwàng)` vs. `看 (kàn)`:** This is the most critical distinction for learners.
    * **`探望 (tànwàng)`** is for visiting people in specific situations (sick, elderly, far away) and implies care and formality.
    * **`看 (kàn)`** can also mean "to visit," but it's much more casual and general. You `看` a friend for coffee or a movie.
    * **Mistake:** Saying `我们去探望电影吧` (Wǒmen qù tànwàng diànyǐng ba - "Let's go `探望` a movie"). This is wrong. `探望` is for people only. You should say `我们去看电影吧` (Wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng ba).
    * **Mistake:** Using `探望` for a casual hangout. If you tell your friend `我明天去探望你` (I'll come `探望` you tomorrow) when you just plan to play video games, it will sound overly dramatic and strange. You should just say `我明天去找你` (Wǒ míngtiān qù zhǎo nǐ) or `我明天去看你` (Wǒ míngtiān qù kàn nǐ).
  * **`探望 (tànwàng)` vs. `拜访 (bàifǎng)`:**
    * `拜访 (bàifǎng)` is also a formal visit, but it emphasizes respect for someone of higher social standing or someone you wish to ask a favor of. You `拜访` a potential business client or a renowned scholar. `探望` emphasizes care and well-being.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[看]] (kàn) - The general, more casual term for "to see" or "to visit" a person or a thing.
  * [[看望]] (kànwàng) - A very close synonym to `探望`. They are often interchangeable, though `探望` can feel slightly more formal.
  * [[拜访]] (bàifǎng) - A formal and respectful visit, usually to a superior, elder, or someone you wish to consult.
  * [[访问]] (fǎngwèn) - A very formal, official visit (e.g., diplomatic, academic, media interview).
  * [[礼物]] (lǐwù) - A gift; an essential item to bring when you `探望` someone to show sincerity.
  * [[关心]] (guānxīn) - To be concerned about, to care for. This is the emotion that motivates a `探望` visit.
  * [[孝顺]] (xiàoshùn) - Filial piety; the cultural value that obligates one to `探望` and care for parents and elders.
  * [[慰问]] (wèiwèn) - To express sympathy and consolation (to condole). This is often the purpose of a `探望` visit to someone who is suffering.