看 kàn
“to see; to look at; to read; to watch”
verb, particleHSK 1 · 2021 list level 1
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
看 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entries. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 99: 看 kàn — Level 1; official annotation 1 (动). PDF page 82
- Entry 2657: 看 kān — Level 5; official annotation 5 (动). PDF page 146
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 看
看 (kàn) means to look at, watch, or read — using your eyes on something. It is a plain verb that takes the thing you look at directly after it, as in 看电视, 看书, 看电影; used alone it can mean 'look!', e.g. 你看！. In the separate reading kān, it means 'to look after; to guard', as in 看孩子.
例句Example sentences
- 我喜欢在家看电视。wǒ xǐ huan zài jiā kàn diàn shì.I like watching TV at home.
- 你看，那是什么？nǐ kàn, nà shì shén me?Look, what is that?
- 他在看中文书。tā zài kàn zhòng wén shū.He is reading a Chinese book.
易混词Easily confused
看vs看见
看 is the action of looking/watching; 看见 means the result — to actually see something, as in 我看见他了 (I saw him).
深度指南Grammar & comparison guides
义项All meanings
- kān: to look after; to take care of; to watch; to guard
- kàn: to see; to look at; to read; to watch; to visit; to call on; to consider; to regard as; to look after