verb / adjective HSK 3
to finish · to complete · to use up · whole · intact
Meaning
完 means to finish, complete, or use up something entirely. It can function as a verb meaning 'to finish' or as a complement indicating completion. As an adjective, it means 'whole' or 'intact'. It's extremely common in everyday speech and appears in many compound words and grammatical patterns.
Usage
Frequently used as a resultative complement after other verbs (吃完 'finish eating', 做完 'finish doing'). Can stand alone as a verb or adjective. Often paired with 了 to indicate completed action. Very common in spoken and written Chinese across all registers.
Examples
- 01我已经做完作业了。.I've already finished my homework.
- 02你吃完饭再走吧。.Finish eating before you leave.
Common collocations
- 吃完to finish eating
- 做完to finish doing
- 看完to finish reading/watching
- 完了finished; it's over (can also mean 'in trouble')
Antonyms
Origin
Oracle bone script shows a roof (宀) over a component meaning 'origin' or 'beginning', suggesting the idea of bringing something to its proper end or completion under a roof.