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见到 (jiàn dào) — to see (someone), to manage to meet or see after expecting

Definition

见到 emphasizes successful completion — 'to finally see/meet, to catch sight of someone' (often after waiting or searching). Contrast with 看见 (jiàn dào vs kàn jiàn), which is neutral 'to see'; 见到 highlights that the meeting actually happened.

verb
to see (someone), to manage to meet or see after expecting

Examples

  • 见到。
    Wǒ hǎo jiǔ méi jiàn dào tā le.
    I haven't seen him for a long time.
  • 见到。
    Jīn tiān zhōng yú jiàn dào le nà wèi zhù míng de zuò jiā.
    Today I finally met that famous writer.
  • 见到，。
    Nǐ jiàn dào tā de shí hou, tì wǒ wèn hǎo.
    When you see her, say hello for me.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

见jiànsee
到dàoreach

见 means see and 到 adds reaching or succeeding, so it gives to see someone.

Characters in this word

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →
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