Definition
不见 (bù jiàn) has two main uses: as the opposite of 看见 (kàn jiàn) meaning 'not see' (e.g., 好久不见 'long time no see'), and to say something has disappeared or is missing (e.g., 手机不见了 'the phone is missing'). Unlike 少 (shǎo) or 缺 (quē), which mean 'to lack' or 'to be short of', 不见 emphasizes that something is gone and cannot be found.
verb
not to seenot to meetto have disappearedto be missing
Easily confused
- 部件bù jiànsound-alikecomponent, part (of a machine or system)
Examples
- 不见！？Hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn! Nǐ zuìjìn hǎo ma?Long time no see! How have you been lately?
- 不见，？Wǒ de shǒujī bù jiàn le, nǐ kànjiàn le ma?My phone is missing. Have you seen it?
- 不见，。Tā zuótiān xiàwǔ bù jiàn le, dàjiā dōu zhǎo bú dào tā.He disappeared yesterday afternoon; no one can find him.
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