<p>If the verb refers to some actions which last for a very short period of time, e.g. sneezing, we do not use "完" to indicate the completion.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-11T08:40:36.640Z
yes, i can understand what did you mean
Agoeng Liu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-12T02:03:51.337Z
Or if it's someone else and you want to ask if they are finished sneezing or not: 你打喷嚏打完了没有？
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-13T02:49:53.333Z
But then you are not talking about a single sneeze.  You are referring to someone who keeps sneezing and you ask if he still feels like sneezing.
Henry HO
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-14T21:16:02.640Z
You _can_ use 完 even with momentary actions, but it's uncommon and sometimes quite strange. 「小孩儿碰完头就开始哭泣了」 is grammatical, but odd. Makes it sound like the kid is deliberately (and repeatedly) bumping his head on something. Which shows what I think is a more relevant limitation: 完 is not used with involuntary or non-agentive verbs. 「我要完了」, for example only means “I want to finish”, not “I’ve finished wanting”: the involuntary act of 要 cannot be telicised into having an ending point. And of course the ultimate involuntary: the copula. 「是完」 is downright ungrammatical.
Janus Bahs Jacquet
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-11T08:34:13.387Z
2014-07-11T08:34:13.387Z
Henry HO
<p>Yeah totally.</p>
<p><strong>KEY</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>finish (the action of the preceding verb)</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Tuttle Learners</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>finish, end</p>
<p>电影什么时候完？</p>
<p>Diànyǐng shénme shíhou wán?</p>
<p>When will the movie end?</p>
<p>吃完</p>
<p>chīwán</p>
<p>finish eating, eat up</p>
<p>我吃完饭就去开会。</p>
<p>Wǒ chīwán fàn jiù qù kāihuì.</p>
<p>I'm going to a meeting as soon as I finish my meal.</p>
<p>看完</p>
<p>kànwán</p>
<p>finish reading/watching</p>
<p>我昨天看完电视已经十二点了。</p>
<p>Wǒ zuótiān kànwán diànshì yǐjīng shí'èr diǎn le.</p>
<p>It was already twelve o'clock when I finished watching TV last night.</p>
<p>做完</p>
<p>zuòwán</p>
<p>finish doing</p>
<p>你什么时候可以做完作业？</p>
<p>Nǐ shénme shíhou kěyǐ zuòwán zuòyè?</p>
<p>When can you finish your homework?</p>
<p>用完</p>
<p>yòngwán</p>
<p>use up</p>
<p>我的钱用完了, 我要到银行去取钱。</p>
<p>Wǒ de qián yòngwán le, wǒ yào dào yínháng qu qǔ qián.</p>
<p>I've used up my money. I'll go to the bank to get some cash.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Just add it to the end of any verb.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-11T07:28:19.357Z
2014-07-11T07:28:19.357Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Mou某
<p>Is it okay if I want to say 做完 (finish working)? I have come across 吃完 (finish eating). Is it possible to say finish [doing bla bla] by writing ...完?</p>
<p>... can be filled with 做 or 写, etc...</p>

<usage><result-complement>
Can I use 完 after any verb to indicate the completion of activities?
# Can I use 完 after any verb to indicate the completion of activities?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-11)

Is it okay if I want to say 做完 (finish working)? I have come across 吃完 (finish eating). Is it possible to say finish [doing bla bla] by writing ...完?

... can be filled with 做 or 写, etc...

**Tags:** usage, result-complement


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-11. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Yeah totally.

**KEY**

> finish (the action of the preceding verb)

**Tuttle Learners**

> finish, end
>
> 电影什么时候完？
>
> Diànyǐng shénme shíhou wán?
>
> When will the movie end?
>
> 吃完
>
> chīwán
>
> finish eating, eat up
>
> 我吃完饭就去开会。
>
> Wǒ chīwán fàn jiù qù kāihuì.
>
> I'm going to a meeting as soon as I finish my meal.
>
> 看完
>
> kànwán
>
> finish reading/watching
>
> 我昨天看完电视已经十二点了。
>
> Wǒ zuótiān kànwán diànshì yǐjīng shí'èr diǎn le.
>
> It was already twelve o'clock when I finished watching TV last night.
>
> 做完
>
> zuòwán
>
> finish doing
>
> 你什么时候可以做完作业？
>
> Nǐ shénme shíhou kěyǐ zuòwán zuòyè?
>
> When can you finish your homework?
>
> 用完
>
> yòngwán
>
> use up
>
> 我的钱用完了, 我要到银行去取钱。
>
> Wǒ de qián yòngwán le, wǒ yào dào yínháng qu qǔ qián.
>
> I've used up my money. I'll go to the bank to get some cash.

Just add it to the end of any verb.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-07-11. Score: 1

If the verb refers to some actions which last for a very short period of time, e.g. sneezing, we do not use "完" to indicate the completion.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: yes, i can understand what did you mean  
> **username_2**: Or if it's someone else and you want to ask if they are finished sneezing or not: 你打喷嚏打完了没有？  
> **username_1**: But then you are not talking about a single sneeze.  You are referring to someone who keeps sneezing and you ask if he still feels like sneezing.  
> **username_3**: You _can_ use 完 even with momentary actions, but it's uncommon and sometimes quite strange. 「小孩儿碰完头就开始哭泣了」 is grammatical, but odd. Makes it sound like the kid is deliberately (and repeatedly) bumping his head on something. Which shows what I think is a more relevant limitation: 完 is not used with involuntary or non-agentive verbs. 「我要完了」, for example only means “I want to finish”, not “I’ve finished wanting”: the involuntary act of 要 cannot be telicised into having an ending point. And of course the ultimate involuntary: the copula. 「是完」 is downright ungrammatical.  

---

