完
to finish; to complete; finished
wán
What does 完 mean?
完 (wán) is a verb meaning 'to finish' or 'to be completed,' but its most important use in HSK 2 is as a result complement attached to another verb: V + 完 = 'finish V-ing.' For example: 吃完 (chīwán, finish eating), 看完 (kànwán, finish reading/watching), 写完 (xiěwán, finish writing), 做完 (zuòwán, finish doing). The 完 indicates the action reached completion. To negate, you put 没 before the main verb: 我没看完 ('I didn't finish watching'). The potential form uses 得/不: 看得完 ('can finish reading'), 看不完 ('can't finish reading'). 完 alone can stand as a verb meaning 'to be over/done': 电影完了 ('the movie ended'). It also appears at the end of stories or articles as 完 — meaning 'The End.' Distinguish 完 (the action is finished) from 好 (the action is done WELL).
Character breakdown
to finish; to complete
Memory hook: 宀 (roof) over 元 (origin/whole) — when something is fully under one roof, it's 'complete.'
Example sentences
我吃完饭就回家。
Wǒ chīwán fàn jiù huí jiā.
I'll go home as soon as I finish eating.
spoken
你看完那本书了吗？
Nǐ kànwán nà běn shū le ma?
Have you finished that book?
neutral
作业还没做完。
Zuòyè hái méi zuòwán.
The homework isn't finished yet.
spoken
电影完了，我们走吧。
Diànyǐng wán le, wǒmen zǒu ba.
The movie's over, let's go.
spoken
这件事情还没完。
Zhè jiàn shìqing hái méi wán.
This matter isn't over yet.
neutral
Common phrases with 完
Synonyms
好 as a result complement means 'done WELL / done satisfactorily': 写好 ('written well; finished writing properly'). 完 means 'reached the end of the action.' 吃完饭 = 'finished the meal'; 做好饭 = 'cooked the meal (properly, ready to eat).'
结束 is a more formal verb 'to end / conclude' (会议结束 'the meeting ended'). 完 is used as a complement (做完) or casually (电影完了). Use 结束 in writing or formal events; 完 in everyday speech.
Don't confuse 完 with
玩 (also wán) means 'to play; to have fun' — completely different word with the same pinyin. 玩 has the 王 (jade) radical on the left; 完 has the 宀 (roof) radical on top. 玩游戏 'play a game' vs 完成 'to complete.'
完成 is a more formal verb 'to complete / to accomplish.' Use it for tasks, missions, projects: 完成作业 ('complete homework'). 完 as a complement (做完作业) is more conversational.
Both can be result complements, but 完 = 'reached the end,' 好 = 'done satisfactorily/ready.' 准备完 (finished preparing — the prep activity ended) vs 准备好 (ready — fully prepared and ready to use).