PMW Translation #30: 看 or 见?

Aug 06, 2024

∙ Paid

Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟

In the last lesson, we’ve delved into the differences between 看 (kàn) and 见 (jiàn).

Today, let’s put that knowledge into practice with our weekly translations exercises.

Translate these English sentences into Mandarin:

He enjoys watching the swimming events the most.
From my apartment in Paris, I can’t spot the Olympic flame hovering above the city.
She enjoys reading articles about the Olympic athletes.
We will meet at the stadium to support our team.

看 (kàn): Passive action, meaning “to look at,” “to watch,” or “to read.” Used for observing or enjoying visual content.
见 (jiàn): Active action, meaning “to see” or “to meet.” Involves direct interaction or intentional encounter.
看(得/不)见 (kàn (de/bù) jiàn): Result complement, “to see” in the sense of perceiving something successfully. Indicates that the action of seeing has been completed or can be completed. It emphasizes the result of sensory perception.

🥇 Translation #1

He enjoys watching the swimming events the most.

“He” is simply 他 (tā).

The verb “to enjoy the most” translates to 最喜欢 (zuì xǐhuan). The word 最 (zuì) means “most” or “the most,” and 喜欢 (xǐhuan) means “to like.”

For the verb “watching,” we use 看 (kàn) because it conveys the idea of passively watching or observing something.

The object “the swimming events” breaks down to:

游泳 (yóuyǒng) means “swimming.” It combines 游 (yóu), meaning “to swim,” and 泳 (yǒng), also meaning “swimming.”
比赛 (bǐsài) means “competition.” It’s a common term used to describe sporting events.

Combining these, 游泳比赛 refers specifically to swimming competitions.