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HSK 1

Verb + 完

Stick 完 after a verb to say the action got all the way to its end — 吃完 (finish eating), 看完 (finish watching), 写完 (finish writing). It's the most common resultative complement in beginner Chinese, and it specifically marks that everything that needed to happen has happened. Often paired with 了 right after for a completed-and-done feel: 吃完了, 看完了.

Structure

[SUBJECT] [VERB] 完 ([OBJECT]) ([了])

[VERB] wán

How to Think About It

完 is the period at the end of the verb. The verb says what you did; 完 confirms there's nothing left of it. That's why it pairs naturally with consumable or finite objects (a meal, a book, a movie) — things that can be exhausted. With verbs that don't logically reach completion (爱, 想), 完 doesn't work. To turn it negative, you say 没 + verb + 完 ('didn't finish'), and to ask about potential completion you use the potential form 吃得完 / 吃不完 ('able to finish' / 'unable to finish').

Examples

我吃完饭了。

Wǒ chī wán fàn le.

I finished eating.

这本书我还没看完。

Zhè běn shū wǒ hái méi kàn wán.

I haven't finished reading this book yet.

作业写完了吗?

Zuòyè xiě wán le ma?

Have you finished your homework?

Common Mistake

Learners stick 不 in front of the verb to negate ('I'm not finished'). For 完, the negation is 没 + verb + 完 — the action just hasn't reached its endpoint yet.

❌ Wrong

我不吃完。

✅ Right

我没吃完。

Don't Confuse With

Verb + 好

好 marks an action done satisfactorily or properly (做好 = done well/ready). 完 marks an action done in full. 'Properly done' vs 'all done.'

Verb + 了

了 alone marks completion of an event but doesn't say the action reached its full extent. 完 specifically says 'nothing left.' 我吃了 = 'I ate'; 我吃完了 = 'I finished it all.'

Verb + 到

到 marks reaching a specific point or target (看到 = catch sight of). 完 marks running out of the action's content. Different kinds of endpoints.

Practice

  1. Fill in the blank: 电影看___了,我们回家吧。

    Show answer

    完

  2. Fill in the blank: 这么多菜,我吃不___。 (can't finish)

    Show answer

    完

  3. Arrange: 完 / 还 / 我 / 没 / 写 / 作业

    Show answer

    我还没写完作业。

  4. Translate to Chinese: He finished drinking the coffee and left.

    Show answer

    他喝完咖啡就走了。

  5. Write a sentence with Verb + 完 about something you finished today.

    Show answer

    我今天看完了一本中文书。

Hear It in Real Episodes

This pattern appears in 5 Fluentide episodes. Press play to hear the sentence:

然后,他跑完了。

Then, he finished.

Sebastian Sabbe Runs Official 1:59:30 MarathonBeginner

吃完饭小明看书。

After eating, Xiaoming reads a book.

China Urges Workers to Relax After WorkBeginner

有的东西卖完了。

Some things are sold out.

Sam's Club Thrives in China While Rivals Retreat

Difficulty

做完以后,

After it's done,

Pindou Pixel Beads Hit 37B Xiaohongshu ViewsBeginner

Related Grammar Patterns

Acquire by listening

Hear Verb + 完 in real Chinese, not in a textbook.

Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start.