望见 (wàng jiàn) — to see from a distance, to catch sight of

Definition

望见 (wàngjiàn) means catching sight of something in the distance — sight-based, often implying a faint or faraway object. Stronger than 看见, which simply means 'to see' whatever is in front of you.

verb
to see from a distanceto catch sight of

Examples

  • 望见。
    Tā zài shān dǐng shàng yuǎn yuǎn wàng jiàn le cūn zhuāng de chuī yān.
    From the mountaintop he saw the cooking smoke of the village in the distance.
  • ，望见。
    Wǒ zhàn zài yáng tái shàng, yī xī wàng jiàn yí gè shú xi de shēn yǐng.
    Standing on the balcony, I vaguely caught sight of a familiar figure.
  • ，望见。
    Tòu guò chén wù, tā wàng jiàn le duì àn de dēng tǎ.
    Through the morning mist, he spied the lighthouse on the opposite shore.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

望wànglook
见jiànsee

Looking 望 and achieving sight 见 gives catch sight of.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 臣臣chéneye
  • 𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

Open 望 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →

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