完

wán: 完 - To Finish, Complete, End, Be Done

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: wán, 完, Chinese verb complement, to finish in Chinese, complete, done, over, run out, Chinese grammar, resultative complement, HSK 1.
  • Summary: An essential HSK 1 word, 完 (wán) is a fundamental Chinese concept meaning 'to finish', 'complete', or 'be done'. It's most frequently used as a resultative complement attached directly to a verb to show that an action has reached its conclusion, such as in 吃完 (chī wán), meaning 'to finish eating'. This guide explores the critical grammatical function of 完 (wán), its use in everyday expressions like “It's over!”, and provides practical examples to help beginners master this crucial element of the Chinese language.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): wán
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Resultative Complement, Adjective
  • HSK Level: HSK 1
  • Concise Definition: To finish an action, complete a task, be done, or be used up.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 完 (wán) as a “completion marker” that you attach to the end of a verb. In English, we use a separate verb like “finish” (e.g., “I finished reading the book”). In Chinese, you fuse the idea of completion directly onto the action verb itself. So, “read” (看 kàn) becomes “read-finish” (看完 kàn wán). This concept of showing the *result* of an action is a cornerstone of Chinese grammar, and 完 (wán) is your first and most important tool for expressing it.

Character Breakdown

  • 完 (wán): This character is a combination of two components:
    • 宀 (mián): The “roof” radical, representing a house or shelter.
    • 元 (yuán): Meaning “first,” “primary,” or “origin.”
  • Together, you can think of them as representing the “primary” or “original” purpose (元) being brought to its conclusion under one “roof” (宀). This signifies that a process has been contained and brought to its natural end, hence the meaning of “complete” or “finish.”

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The significance of 完 (wán) is more linguistic than cultural, but it reveals a core aspect of Chinese thinking: a focus on results. The widespread use of resultative complements like 完 (wán) shows that the outcome of an action is often just as important, if not more so, than the action itself.
  • Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, we express tense and completion with auxiliary verbs and verb endings (e.g., “I ate,” “I have eaten,” “I will finish eating”). The Chinese approach with 完 (wán) is more direct and modular. You take an action (like 吃 chī, “to eat”) and add a result module (完 wán) to create a new, more specific meaning: 吃完 (chī wán), “to finish eating.” This action-result structure is a fundamental difference in how the two languages build meaning and describe the world. It’s less about *when* something happened and more about *what result* the action produced.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • As a Resultative Complement (Most Common): This is the primary function of 完. It attaches to a verb to indicate the action is finished.
    • `Verb + 完 (+ 了)`
    • e.g., 看完 (kàn wán) - finish reading/watching, 写完 (xiě wán) - finish writing, 做完 (zuò wán) - finish doing.
  • Meaning “Used Up” or “Depleted”: When used with verbs like `用 (yòng)` (to use) or `花 (huā)` (to spend), it means to run out of something completely.
    • e.g., 钱花完了 (qián huā wán le) - The money is all spent. 纸用完了 (zhǐ yòng wán le) - The paper has run out.
  • As a Standalone Verb (Colloquial):
    • In conversation, 完了 (wán le) is a very common exclamation meaning “It's over!”, “I'm doomed!”, “We're toast!”, or “It's ruined!”. It carries a strong negative connotation.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 你什么时候能做完你的作业？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ shénme shíhòu néng zuòwán nǐ de zuòyè?
    • English: When can you finish your homework?
    • Analysis: A classic example of `verb + 完`. 做完 (zuòwán) means “to finish doing.” This is a very common question for students.
  • Example 2:
    • 我终于把那本厚厚的书看完了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ zhōngyú bǎ nà běn hòuhòu de shū kànwán le.
    • English: I finally finished reading that thick book.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses the `把 (bǎ)` structure to emphasize the disposal of the object (the book) through the action of “finish reading” (看完).
  • Example 3:
    • 等我说完，你再发表意见。
    • Pinyin: Děng wǒ shuōwán, nǐ zài fābiǎo yìjiàn.
    • English: Wait until I've finished speaking, then you can express your opinion.
    • Analysis: Here, 说完 (shuōwán) acts as a condition. The second action (“you express your opinion”) can only happen after the first action is completed.
  • Example 4:
    • 糟糕！我把手机的电用完了。
    • Pinyin: Zāogāo! Wǒ bǎ shǒujī de diàn yòngwán le.
    • English: Oh no! I've used up my phone's battery.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the “used up” or “depleted” meaning. 用完 (yòngwán) means to use until nothing is left.
  • Example 5:
    • 完了！我忘了今天是他的生日！
    • Pinyin: Wán le! Wǒ wàng le jīntiān shì tā de shēngrì!
    • English: I'm doomed! I forgot it's his birthday today!
    • Analysis: This shows 完了 (wán le) used as a standalone, colloquial exclamation to express that something has gone terribly wrong.
  • Example 6:
    • 这部电影还没演完，请不要离开。
    • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng hái méi yǎnwán, qǐng búyào líkāi.
    • English: This movie hasn't finished playing yet, please don't leave.
    • Analysis: This shows the negative form. To say an action is *not* finished, you use `还没 (hái méi) + Verb + 完`. Note that `不 (bù)` is not used here.
  • Example 7:
    • 我们刚吃完饭，现在有点儿撑。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gāng chīwán fàn, xiànzài yǒudiǎnr chēng.
    • English: We just finished eating, and now we're a bit stuffed.
    • Analysis: 吃完 (chīwán) clearly indicates the meal is over. The word `刚 (gāng)` emphasizes that the completion was very recent.
  • Example 8:
    • 我得先把手头的工作忙完。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ děi xiān bǎ shǒutóu de gōngzuò mángwán.
    • English: I have to finish the work I have on hand first.
    • Analysis: 忙完 (mángwán) is a common and useful phrase meaning “to finish being busy with something.”
  • Example 9:
    • 这个故事还没完呢。
    • Pinyin: Zhè ge gùshi hái méi wán ne.
    • English: This story isn't over yet.
    • Analysis: Here, 完 (wán) is used as the main verb meaning “to be over” or “to end.”
  • Example 10:
    • 你听完这首歌一定会喜欢上它。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ tīngwán zhè shǒu gē yídìng huì xǐhuān shàng tā.
    • English: After you finish listening to this song, you will definitely fall in love with it.
    • Analysis: 听完 (tīngwán) signifies the completion of the listening experience, which is the prerequisite for the predicted outcome.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `完 (wán)` vs. `了 (le)`: This is the most common point of confusion for beginners.
    • 完 (wán) indicates completion. It's a result. It means the action reached its natural end.
    • 了 (le) indicates a completed action or a change of state. The action happened, but it might not be finished.
    • Compare: `我看了那本书 (Wǒ kàn le nà běn shū)` → “I read that book.” (Maybe you read a few pages, maybe the whole thing. It just states the action occurred).
    • Compare: `我看完了那本书 (Wǒ kàn wán le nà běn shū)` → “I finished reading that book.” (You read it from cover to cover. The action is 100% complete). They are often used together, where `完` provides the result and `了` marks the completed action.
  • `完 (wán)` vs. `结束 (jiéshù)`:
    • 完 (wán) is typically a complement used for tasks, actions, and things being used up. It's very common and less formal.
    • 结束 (jiéshù) is a more formal, standalone verb meaning “to end, conclude, terminate.” It's used for events, meetings, relationships, and eras.
    • Correct: 会议结束了。(Huìyì jiéshù le.) - The meeting has ended.
    • Incorrect: 会议完了。(This sounds like “The meeting is doomed!”)
    • Correct: 我做完作业了。(Wǒ zuò wán zuòyè le.) - I finished my homework.
    • Awkward: 我结束作业了。
  • Negating with `没 (méi)`: To say you *haven't finished* something, always use `没 (méi)` or `还没有 (hái méiyǒu)`, not `不 (bù)`.
    • Correct: 我没看完。(Wǒ méi kàn wán.) - I haven't finished reading.
    • Incorrect: 我不看完。(Wǒ bù kàn wán.)

Related Terms and Concepts

  • * 完成 (wánchéng) - A more formal verb meaning “to complete” or “accomplish,” often used for significant tasks, projects, or missions.
  • * 结束 (jiéshù) - A formal verb for “to end” or “conclude,” used for events, meetings, or relationships, not as a complement.
  • * 了 (le) - The grammatical particle indicating a completed action or change of state, which often appears in sentences with `完`.
  • * 好 (hǎo) - Another common resultative complement. `做好 (zuò hǎo)` means to do something well or to the point of readiness, while `做完 (zuò wán)` just means it's finished (the quality isn't specified).
  • * 完美 (wánměi) - An adjective meaning “perfect,” literally “complete and beautiful.”
  • * 完整 (wánzhěng) - An adjective meaning “complete,” “whole,” or “intact.”
  • * 用光 (yòngguāng) - A synonym for `用完 (yòng wán)`. `光 (guāng)` as a complement means “bare” or “nothing left.”