看望

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kànwàng: 看望 - To Visit, To Call On

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: kànwàng, kanwang, 看望, how to say visit in Chinese, visit parents Chinese, visit a sick friend Chinese, Chinese word for visit, kànwàng vs cānguān, kànwàng vs bàifǎng, Chinese culture visiting, HSK 3 vocabulary.
  • Summary: Learn the Chinese word 看望 (kànwàng), which means “to visit” but carries a deep cultural meaning of care, respect, and duty. It's not for a casual hangout, but for purposefully calling on someone who is elderly, sick, or a respected figure like a teacher. This guide explores its cultural roots in filial piety, practical use in modern China (including what gifts to bring!), and how it differs from similar words like `参观 (cānguān)` and `拜访 (bàifǎng)`.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): kànwàng
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 3
  • Concise Definition: To visit and express care or respect, especially for someone who is sick, elderly, or living far away.
  • In a Nutshell: 看望 (kànwàng) is a “visit with a purpose.” It's not about just dropping by; it's an intentional act driven by affection, concern, or social obligation. Think of it as a visit to check in on someone's well-being. You 看望 (kànwàng) your grandparents in their hometown, a sick colleague in the hospital, or a former teacher you hold in high regard. The word itself feels warm and conveys a sense of responsibility and connection.

Character Breakdown

  • 看 (kàn): To look, to see, to watch. The character is a combination of a hand (手) over an eye (目), vividly picturing the act of shielding one's eyes to get a better look at something.
  • 望 (wàng): To gaze into the distance, to hope, to expect. This character has a more complex origin, often associated with looking towards the full moon (月) from a high place, implying gazing from afar with a sense of longing or expectation.
  • Combined Meaning: Together, 看望 (kànwàng) literally translates to “look and gaze upon.” This combination beautifully captures the essence of the word: you are not just seeing someone, you are traveling a distance (even a short one) to look upon them with care and expectation, hoping to find them well.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • Filial Piety (孝, xiào) and Respect for Elders: 看望 (kànwàng) is deeply intertwined with the Confucian value of filial piety. Children, even as adults, have a strong cultural duty to 看望 their parents and grandparents regularly. This is especially true during major holidays like the Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié), when millions of people travel across China for the primary purpose of visiting family. It's a tangible expression of love, gratitude, and respect.
  • Maintaining Relationships (关系, guānxi): The concept of 看望 (kànwàng) extends beyond family. Visiting a sick colleague, a boss who is unwell, or a respected former teacher is a crucial way to maintain and strengthen social bonds, or `关系 (guānxi)`. This act shows you are a considerate and reliable person, reinforcing your place within your social network.
  • Comparison to Western “Visit”: In English, “to visit” is a broad term. You can “visit” a city, “visit” a website, or “visit” a friend for a casual beer. 看望 (kànwàng) is much more specific and emotionally loaded. You would not use 看望 for a casual hangout with a friend—for that, you'd use a phrase like `找朋友玩 (zhǎo péngyou wán)`. 看望 implies a power dynamic (elder/junior, healthy/sick) or a deep-seated bond that requires nurturing.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Visiting Family and Elders: This is the most common use. It's almost always accompanied by a gift, such as a fruit basket, milk, or nutritional supplements (保健品, bǎojiànpǐn).
    • “This weekend I'm going to visit my grandma.” → 这个周末我要去看望我奶奶。(Zhège zhōumò wǒ yào qù kànwàng wǒ nǎinai.)
  • Visiting the Sick: When a friend, colleague, or relative is in the hospital or sick at home, it is customary to 看望 them. Again, bringing a small gift like flowers (avoiding white, which is for funerals) or fruit is standard practice.
    • “My colleague is sick, a few of us are going to visit him this afternoon.” → 我同事生病了，我们几个下午去看望他。(Wǒ tóngshì shēngbìng le, wǒmen jǐ ge xiàwǔ qù kànwàng tā.)
  • Visiting a Respected Figure: You can 看望 a former teacher or mentor to show gratitude and catch up. This act reaffirms your respect for them.
    • “On Teacher's Day, many students go back to school to visit their teachers.” → 教师节那天，很多学生回学校看望老师。(Jiàoshījié nàtiān, hěnduō xuéshēng huí xuéxiào kànwàng lǎoshī.)

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我下周要去上海看望我的外婆。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ xià zhōu yào qù Shànghǎi kànwàng wǒ de wàipó.
    • English: I'm going to Shanghai next week to visit my maternal grandmother.
    • Analysis: A classic example of visiting an elderly relative who lives in another city. The use of `去 (qù)` before `看望` is very common, meaning “to go and visit.”
  • Example 2:
    • 他住院了，我们应该买点水果去看望他。
    • Pinyin: Tā zhùyuàn le, wǒmen yīnggāi mǎi diǎn shuǐguǒ qù kànwàng tā.
    • English: He's been hospitalized, we should buy some fruit and go visit him.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural practice of bringing a gift (fruit is a very common choice) when visiting someone who is sick.
  • Example 3:
    • 你什么时候有空？我想去看望一下李老师。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng? Wǒ xiǎng qù kànwàng yíxià Lǐ lǎoshī.
    • English: When are you free? I'd like to go visit Teacher Li.
    • Analysis: Using `一下 (yíxià)` after the verb softens the tone, making it sound more casual and tentative, like “pay a little visit.” It's common in spoken Chinese.
  • Example 4:
    • 春节最重要的事就是回家看望父母。
    • Pinyin: Chūnjié zuì zhòngyào de shì jiùshì huíjiā kànwàng fùmǔ.
    • English: The most important thing during the Spring Festival is to go home and visit one's parents.
    • Analysis: This directly links 看望 to its most significant cultural context: filial duty during major holidays.
  • Example 5:
    • 谢谢你特地来看望我，我好多了。
    • Pinyin: Xièxie nǐ tèdì lái kànwàng wǒ, wǒ hǎo duō le.
    • English: Thank you for making a special trip to come visit me, I'm much better now.
    • Analysis: This is what someone who has been visited might say. `特地 (tèdì)` means “specially” or “for a special purpose,” emphasizing the effort the visitor made.
  • Example 6:
    • 总经理上周去分公司看望了那里的员工。
    • Pinyin: Zǒngjīnglǐ shàng zhōu qù fēngōngsī kànwàng le nàlǐ de yuángōng.
    • English: The general manager went to the branch office last week to visit the employees there.
    • Analysis: Here, 看望 is used in a business context. A superior visiting subordinates is an act of showing care and boosting morale. It's a “visit,” not an “inspection.”
  • Example 7:
    • 我们好久没看望爷爷奶奶了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen hǎojiǔ méi kànwàng yéye nǎinai le.
    • English: We haven't visited grandpa and grandma for a long time.
    • Analysis: Shows the use of 看望 in a negative sentence with `没 (méi)`. The phrase `好久没…了` expresses that a long time has passed since the action occurred.
  • Example 8:
    • 我代表公司来看望您，祝您早日康复。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ dàibiǎo gōngsī lái kànwàng nín, zhù nín zǎorì kāngfù.
    • English: I've come to visit you on behalf of the company and wish you a speedy recovery.
    • Analysis: A formal example. `代表 (dàibiǎo)` means “to represent,” and using the formal “you” `您 (nín)` is appropriate when visiting a superior or elder.
  • Example 9:
    • 他从国外回来，第一件事就是看望他年迈的祖母。
    • Pinyin: Tā cóng guówài huílái, dì yī jiàn shì jiùshì kànwàng tā niánmài de zǔmǔ.
    • English: After returning from abroad, the first thing he did was visit his elderly grandmother.
    • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the priority and importance of the visit, reinforcing the cultural value of caring for elders. `年迈 (niánmài)` means elderly or aged.
  • Example 10:
    • 儿子，别忘了有时间常回家看望我们。
    • Pinyin: Érzi, bié wàng le yǒu shíjiān cháng huíjiā kànwàng wǒmen.
    • English: Son, don't forget to come home often to visit us when you have time.
    • Analysis: This sentence reflects the perspective of parents, expressing their hope to be visited. `常回家看看 (Cháng huíjiā kànkan)` is the title of a famous, sentimental song in China about this very topic.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `看望 (kànwàng)` vs. `参观 (cānguān)` - Visiting People vs. Places
    • This is the most common mistake for learners. 看望 is ONLY for people. 参观 is for visiting places like museums, factories, schools, or tourist sites.
    • Incorrect: 我想去看望故宫。 (Wǒ xiǎng qù kànwàng Gùgōng.)
    • Correct: 我想去参观故宫。 (Wǒ xiǎng qù cānguān Gùgōng.) - I want to visit the Forbidden City.
  • `看望 (kànwàng)` vs. `拜访 (bàifǎng)` - Warm Visit vs. Formal Call
    • 看望 is warm and implies care (for family, friends, sick colleagues).
    • 拜访 is more formal and respectful. You use it when calling on someone of a much higher social status, a renowned scholar, or a very important client. It has a sense of “paying one's respects.”
    • Usage: You would 看望 your own grandmother, but if you were a junior academic, you might 拜访 a famous professor you've never met to ask for advice.
  • `看望 (kànwàng)` vs. `看病 (kànbìng)` - Visiting the Sick vs. Seeing a Doctor
    • Be careful with this one! They sound similar.
    • 看望病人 (kànwàng bìngrén) = To visit a sick person.
    • 看病 (kànbìng) = To see a doctor (as a patient).
    • Incorrect: 我朋友生病了，我要带他去看望。 (This sounds like you're taking him to visit someone else.)
    • Correct: 我朋友生病了，我要带他去看病。 (Wǒ péngyou shēngbìng le, wǒ yào dài tā qù kànbìng.) - My friend is sick, I need to take him to see a doctor.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 探望 (tànwàng) - A very close synonym for `看望` and often interchangeable. `探望` can sometimes feel slightly more formal or imply “checking up on” someone.
  • 拜访 (bàifǎng) - A more formal and respectful verb for visiting someone of high status; “to pay a formal call.”
  • 访问 (fǎngwèn) - A highly formal term for an official visit, used in diplomacy, journalism, or academia (e.g., a state visit, a formal interview).
  • 参观 (cānguān) - To visit a place (not a person), such as a museum, school, or factory.
  • 看病 (kànbìng) - To see a doctor, to receive medical treatment. The opposite side of visiting a sick person.
  • 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - Filial piety; the cultural value of being respectful and caring towards one's parents and elders, which is the primary motivation for 看望 family.
  • 礼物 (lǐwù) - Gift; something one customarily brings when going to 看望 someone.
  • 问候 (wènhòu) - To send regards, to greet. This is the verbal or written expression of care, whereas 看望 is the physical act of visiting.