Complement – 會 huì & 見 jiàn

Chinese verbs are not just about actions; they also show how verbs can express the result of the action. In this article, we’ll explore three common complements: 會会 huì and 見见 jiàn, and see how these small words can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

會会 huì – to learn / to master

It indicates that an action results in acquiring ability or knowledge.

等děng我wǒ學xué會huì了le騎馬qímǎ， 我wǒ就jiù要yào去qù蒙古ménggǔ等děng我wǒ学xué会huì了le骑马qímǎ， 我wǒ就jiù要yào去qù蒙古ménggǔ
Once I learn how to ride a horse, I will go to Mongolia.

我wǒ學xué不bú會huì這個zhège語法yǔfǎ我wǒ学xué不bú会huì这个zhège语法yǔfǎ
I’m unable to master this grammar.

你nǐ學xué得de會huì開車kāichē嗎ma？ 你nǐ学xué得de会huì开车kāichē吗ma？
Are you able to learn driving?

我wǒ沒méi學xué會huì怎麼zěnme寫xiě書法shūfǎ我wǒ没méi学xué会huì怎么zěnme写xiě书法shūfǎ
I haven’t learned how to do calligraphy. / I haven’t mastered calligraphy.

Tiffany 教jiāo會huì了le我wǒ這個zhège字zì的de用法yòngfǎTiffany 教jiāo会huì了le我wǒ这个zhège字zì的de用法yòngfǎ
Tiffany taught me how to use this word.

見见 jiàn – to see / to hear

It indicates that an action results in a perceptible effect, usually seeing or hearing.

我wǒ沒méi聽見tīngjiàn你nǐ的de聲音shēngyīn， 我wǒ也yě沒méi看見kànjiàn你nǐ我wǒ没méi听见tīngjiàn你nǐ的de声音shēngyīn， 我wǒ也yě没méi看见kànjiàn你nǐ
I didn’t hear your voice, and I didn’t see you.

有yǒu人rén在zài哭kū， 你nǐ聽見tīngjiàn了le沒有méiyǒu？ 有yǒu人rén在zài哭kū， 你nǐ听见tīngjiàn了le没有méiyǒu？
Someone is crying. Did you hear it?

你nǐ看得見kàndejiàn鬼guǐ嗎ma？ 我wǒ看不見kànbújiàn你nǐ看得见kàndejiàn鬼guǐ吗ma？ 我wǒ看不见kànbujiàn
Can you see ghosts? I can’t

我wǒ的de手機shǒujī， 你nǐ看見kànjiàn了le嗎ma？ 我wǒ的de手机shǒujī， 你nǐ看见kànjiàn了le吗ma？
Did you see my phone?

我wǒ剛剛gānggāng在zài咖啡店kāfēidiàn看見kànjiànTiffany 了le我wǒ刚刚gānggāng在zài咖啡店kāfēidiàn看见kànjiànTiffany 了le
I just saw Tiffany at the café.

Differences

我wǒ學xué中文zhōngwén我wǒ学xué中文zhōngwén
Ongoing process: You are learning/studying, but you may not have mastered it yet. Focuses on the action of studying, not the result.

我wǒ學xué會huì了le中文zhōngwén我wǒ学xué会huì了le中文zhōngwén
Completed result: You have already acquired the skill and can now use Chinese. Focuses on the achievement / ability gained.

我wǒ沒méi看kàn他tā我wǒ没méi看kàn他tā
I didn’t look at him.
Focuses on the action of looking (deliberate or intentional).

我wǒ沒méi看見kànjiàn他tā我wǒ没méi看见kànjiàn他tā
I didn’t see him.
Focuses on the result (whether or not your eyes actually perceived him).