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看得见 (kàn dé jiàn) — can see, be able to see; be visible, noticeable

Definition

A resultative verb phrase: 看见 (see) plus the potential complement 得, meaning 'be able to see / visible'. Negate as 看不见 ('can't see'); the le-variant 看得了 is colloquial and rare.

verb
can seebe able to seebe visiblenoticeable

Examples

  • 看得见。
    Yuǎn chù de shān dōu kàn dé jiàn.
    The mountains in the distance are all visible.
  • 看得见？
    Wǒ xiě de xiǎo zì nǐ kàn dé jiàn ma?
    Can you see the small characters I wrote?
  • ，看得见。
    Tiān liàng yǐ hòu, xīng xing jiù bú kàn dé jiàn le.
    After dawn, the stars are no longer visible.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The shape 看 puts 手 (hand) over 目 (eye), showing a hand placed above the eyes to gaze into the distance.

Open 看 →

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

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →

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 →
Appears in
Senses

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