====== wán: 完 - To Finish, Complete, End, Be Done ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** wán, 完, Chinese verb complement, to finish in Chinese, complete, done, over, run out, Chinese grammar, resultative complement, HSK 1.
  * **Summary:** An essential HSK 1 word, **完 (wán)** is a fundamental Chinese concept meaning 'to finish', 'complete', or 'be done'. It's most frequently used as a resultative complement attached directly to a verb to show that an action has reached its conclusion, such as in **吃完 (chī wán)**, meaning 'to finish eating'. This guide explores the critical grammatical function of **完 (wán)**, its use in everyday expressions like "It's over!", and provides practical examples to help beginners master this crucial element of the Chinese language.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wán
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Resultative Complement, Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 1
  * **Concise Definition:** To finish an action, complete a task, be done, or be used up.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **完 (wán)** as a "completion marker" that you attach to the end of a verb. In English, we use a separate verb like "finish" (e.g., "I finished reading the book"). In Chinese, you fuse the idea of completion directly onto the action verb itself. So, "read" (看 kàn) becomes "read-finish" (**看完 kàn wán**). This concept of showing the *result* of an action is a cornerstone of Chinese grammar, and **完 (wán)** is your first and most important tool for expressing it.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **完 (wán):** This character is a combination of two components:
    * **宀 (mián):** The "roof" radical, representing a house or shelter.
    * **元 (yuán):** Meaning "first," "primary," or "origin."
  * Together, you can think of them as representing the "primary" or "original" purpose (元) being brought to its conclusion under one "roof" (宀). This signifies that a process has been contained and brought to its natural end, hence the meaning of "complete" or "finish."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * The significance of **完 (wán)** is more linguistic than cultural, but it reveals a core aspect of Chinese thinking: a focus on results. The widespread use of resultative complements like **完 (wán)** shows that the outcome of an action is often just as important, if not more so, than the action itself.
  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** In English, we express tense and completion with auxiliary verbs and verb endings (e.g., "I ate," "I have eaten," "I will finish eating"). The Chinese approach with **完 (wán)** is more direct and modular. You take an action (like 吃 chī, "to eat") and add a result module (**完 wán**) to create a new, more specific meaning: **吃完 (chī wán)**, "to finish eating." This action-result structure is a fundamental difference in how the two languages build meaning and describe the world. It’s less about *when* something happened and more about *what result* the action produced.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **As a Resultative Complement (Most Common):** This is the primary function of **完**. It attaches to a verb to indicate the action is finished.
    * `Verb + 完 (+ 了)`
    * e.g., 看**完** (kàn wán) - finish reading/watching, 写**完** (xiě wán) - finish writing, 做**完** (zuò wán) - finish doing.
  * **Meaning "Used Up" or "Depleted":** When used with verbs like `用 (yòng)` (to use) or `花 (huā)` (to spend), it means to run out of something completely.
    * e.g., 钱花**完**了 (qián huā wán le) - The money is all spent. 纸用**完**了 (zhǐ yòng wán le) - The paper has run out.
  * **As a Standalone Verb (Colloquial):**
    * In conversation, **完了 (wán le)** is a very common exclamation meaning "It's over!", "I'm doomed!", "We're toast!", or "It's ruined!". It carries a strong negative connotation.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 你什么时候能**做完**你的作业？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ shénme shíhòu néng **zuòwán** nǐ de zuòyè?
    * English: When can you finish your homework?
    * Analysis: A classic example of `verb + 完`. **做完 (zuòwán)** means "to finish doing." This is a very common question for students.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 我终于把那本厚厚的书**看完**了。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zhōngyú bǎ nà běn hòuhòu de shū **kànwán** le.
    * English: I finally finished reading that thick book.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses the `把 (bǎ)` structure to emphasize the disposal of the object (the book) through the action of "finish reading" (**看完**).
  * **Example 3:**
    * 等我**说完**，你再发表意见。
    * Pinyin: Děng wǒ **shuōwán**, nǐ zài fābiǎo yìjiàn.
    * English: Wait until I've finished speaking, then you can express your opinion.
    * Analysis: Here, **说完 (shuōwán)** acts as a condition. The second action ("you express your opinion") can only happen after the first action is completed.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 糟糕！我把手机的电**用完**了。
    * Pinyin: Zāogāo! Wǒ bǎ shǒujī de diàn **yòngwán** le.
    * English: Oh no! I've used up my phone's battery.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the "used up" or "depleted" meaning. **用完 (yòngwán)** means to use until nothing is left.
  * **Example 5:**
    * **完了**！我忘了今天是他的生日！
    * Pinyin: **Wán le**! Wǒ wàng le jīntiān shì tā de shēngrì!
    * English: I'm doomed! I forgot it's his birthday today!
    * Analysis: This shows **完了 (wán le)** used as a standalone, colloquial exclamation to express that something has gone terribly wrong.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 这部电影还没**演完**，请不要离开。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng hái méi **yǎnwán**, qǐng búyào líkāi.
    * English: This movie hasn't finished playing yet, please don't leave.
    * Analysis: This shows the negative form. To say an action is *not* finished, you use `还没 (hái méi) + Verb + 完`. Note that `不 (bù)` is not used here.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 我们刚**吃完**饭，现在有点儿撑。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen gāng **chīwán** fàn, xiànzài yǒudiǎnr chēng.
    * English: We just finished eating, and now we're a bit stuffed.
    * Analysis: **吃完 (chīwán)** clearly indicates the meal is over. The word `刚 (gāng)` emphasizes that the completion was very recent.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 我得先把手头的工作**忙完**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ děi xiān bǎ shǒutóu de gōngzuò **mángwán**.
    * English: I have to finish the work I have on hand first.
    * Analysis: **忙完 (mángwán)** is a common and useful phrase meaning "to finish being busy with something."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 这个故事还没**完**呢。
    * Pinyin: Zhè ge gùshi hái méi **wán** ne.
    * English: This story isn't over yet.
    * Analysis: Here, **完 (wán)** is used as the main verb meaning "to be over" or "to end."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 你**听完**这首歌一定会喜欢上它。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ **tīngwán** zhè shǒu gē yídìng huì xǐhuān shàng tā.
    * English: After you finish listening to this song, you will definitely fall in love with it.
    * Analysis: **听完 (tīngwán)** signifies the completion of the listening experience, which is the prerequisite for the predicted outcome.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`完 (wán)` vs. `了 (le)`:** This is the most common point of confusion for beginners.
    * **完 (wán)** indicates **completion**. It's a result. It means the action reached its natural end.
    * **了 (le)** indicates a **completed action** or a **change of state**. The action happened, but it might not be finished.
    * Compare: `我看了那本书 (Wǒ kàn le nà běn shū)` -> "I read that book." (Maybe you read a few pages, maybe the whole thing. It just states the action occurred).
    * Compare: `我看完了那本书 (Wǒ kàn wán le nà běn shū)` -> "I finished reading that book." (You read it from cover to cover. The action is 100% complete). They are often used together, where `完` provides the result and `了` marks the completed action.
  * **`完 (wán)` vs. `结束 (jiéshù)`:**
    * **完 (wán)** is typically a complement used for tasks, actions, and things being used up. It's very common and less formal.
    * **结束 (jiéshù)** is a more formal, standalone verb meaning "to end, conclude, terminate." It's used for events, meetings, relationships, and eras.
    * Correct: 会议**结束**了。(Huìyì jiéshù le.) - The meeting has ended.
    * Incorrect: 会议**完了**。(This sounds like "The meeting is doomed!")
    * Correct: 我**做完**作业了。(Wǒ zuò wán zuòyè le.) - I finished my homework.
    * Awkward: 我**结束**作业了。
  * **Negating with `没 (méi)`:** To say you *haven't finished* something, always use `没 (méi)` or `还没有 (hái méiyǒu)`, not `不 (bù)`.
    * Correct: 我**没看完**。(Wǒ méi kàn wán.) - I haven't finished reading.
    * Incorrect: 我**不看完**。(Wǒ bù kàn wán.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * * [[wancheng|完成]] (wánchéng) - A more formal verb meaning "to complete" or "accomplish," often used for significant tasks, projects, or missions.
  * * [[jieshu|结束]] (jiéshù) - A formal verb for "to end" or "conclude," used for events, meetings, or relationships, not as a complement.
  * * [[le|了]] (le) - The grammatical particle indicating a completed action or change of state, which often appears in sentences with `完`.
  * * [[hao|好]] (hǎo) - Another common resultative complement. `做好 (zuò hǎo)` means to do something well or to the point of readiness, while `做完 (zuò wán)` just means it's finished (the quality isn't specified).
  * * [[wanmei|完美]] (wánměi) - An adjective meaning "perfect," literally "complete and beautiful."
  * * [[wanzheng|完整]] (wánzhěng) - An adjective meaning "complete," "whole," or "intact."
  * * [[yongguang|用光]] (yòngguāng) - A synonym for `用完 (yòng wán)`. `光 (guāng)` as a complement means "bare" or "nothing left."