<p>I think it's easier if you think of 看 as look rather than see (e.g. 给我看一下: let me have a look.) It does not mean the verb resulted, because you can also not see (it, anything, etc.): 看不到</p>
<p>Then you can think of 看到 or 看见 as see (as in, you're looking and you can see it. The 到/见 is resultative, you have achieved your goal.) e.g. 我看到你的钥匙在桌子上: I saw your keys on the table.)</p>
<p>看过 is simply that you have looked in the past, like you have read a book previously (我看过那本书)</p>
<p>Another 结果补语 (resultative complement) is 完 (finished looking [reading]) like 我昨晚看完这本书 (Last night I finished reading this book.)</p>
<p>Another example of the 完 resultative complement is in 吃完了 (finished eating.)</p>
<p>You can see how these resultative complements work with other things, too, like 听:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>听: to listen (but you might not be hearing anything, you're listening out for something)</p>
<p>听到/听见: to hear (you can actually hear something)</p>
<p>听不到: cannot hear</p>
</blockquote>
<p>You can research 结果补语 (resultative complement) for more information (there are many forms.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-24T01:02:51.390Z
2014-06-24T01:33:10.637Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Ming
<hr />
<h3>看到</h3>
<p><em><strong>see sth at sometime(past, present, future), examples:</strong></em></p>
<pre><code>我刚才看到奥巴马了.
I saw the President Obama just now.
你将会看到太阳升起.
you will see sunrise tommorrow.  
</code></pre>
<hr />
<h3>看过</h3>
<p><em><strong>have seen sth in the past, examples:</strong></em></p>
<pre><code>我看过电影《星际迷航》.
I have seen the 'star trek'.
</code></pre>
<hr />
<p>any question, ask me.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-24T01:35:52.277Z
2014-06-24T01:35:52.277Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
EffectiveMatrix
<p>看过•To have seen before</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I've seen that movie before.
  我看过那个电影了。 
  Wǒ kànguo nàge diànyǐng le.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>看到•to see</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I can't see
  看不到</p>
</blockquote>

<p>></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>拐个弯儿就可以看到村子了。 
  Guǎi ge wānr jiù kěyǐ kàndào cūnzi le.
  The village will come into view at the next turn.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-24T00:38:46.117Z
2014-06-24T00:38:46.117Z
Mou某
<p>I've learned them in Chinese class, but still a bit confused,</p>

<p>看 means see, but what is the difference between 看到 and 看过? </p>

<difference>
What is the difference between 看到 and 看过?
# What is the difference between 看到 and 看过?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-23)

I've learned them in Chinese class, but still a bit confused,

看 means see, but what is the difference between 看到 and 看过?

**Tags:** difference


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-24. Score: 4

I think it's easier if you think of 看 as look rather than see (e.g. 给我看一下: let me have a look.) It does not mean the verb resulted, because you can also not see (it, anything, etc.): 看不到

Then you can think of 看到 or 看见 as see (as in, you're looking and you can see it. The 到/见 is resultative, you have achieved your goal.) e.g. 我看到你的钥匙在桌子上: I saw your keys on the table.)

看过 is simply that you have looked in the past, like you have read a book previously (我看过那本书)

Another 结果补语 (resultative complement) is 完 (finished looking [reading]) like 我昨晚看完这本书 (Last night I finished reading this book.)

Another example of the 完 resultative complement is in 吃完了 (finished eating.)

You can see how these resultative complements work with other things, too, like 听:

> 听: to listen (but you might not be hearing anything, you're listening out for something)
>
> 听到/听见: to hear (you can actually hear something)
>
> 听不到: cannot hear

You can research 结果补语 (resultative complement) for more information (there are many forms.)


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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-06-24. Score: 2

---

### 看到

***see sth at sometime(past, present, future), examples:***

```
我刚才看到奥巴马了.
I saw the President Obama just now.
你将会看到太阳升起.
you will see sunrise tommorrow.  

```

---

### 看过

***have seen sth in the past, examples:***

```
我看过电影《星际迷航》.
I have seen the 'star trek'.

```

---

any question, ask me.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-06-24. Score: 0

看过•To have seen before

> I've seen that movie before.
> 我看过那个电影了。
> Wǒ kànguo nàge diànyǐng le.

看到•to see

> I can't see
> 看不到

>

> 拐个弯儿就可以看到村子了。
> Guǎi ge wānr jiù kěyǐ kàndào cūnzi le.
> The village will come into view at the next turn.


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