完
Pattern
Verb + 完 + object
Key words
Core idea
完 follows a verb to show the action is completed.
The basic pattern is:
verb + 完 + objectWhat it adds
The verb tells the action. 完 tells that the action reaches its endpoint: finish eating, finish writing, finish reading.
Compare with completed-action markers
了 can mark a completed event, but it does not name the result. 完 makes the result “finished” explicit.
Examples
我写完作业了。
Wǒ xiěwán zuòyè le.
I finished writing my homework.
他看完这本书了。
Tā kànwán zhè běn shū le.
He finished reading this book.
吃完饭，我们去散步。
Chīwán fàn, wǒmen qù sànbù.
After finishing the meal, we go for a walk.
Common mistakes
Avoid
我写作业完了。
Use
我写完作业了。
完 follows the action verb directly; the object comes after the verb-result unit.
Seen in stories
We Could Not Finish the Puzzle
客人们喝完咖啡以后，都留下来帮忙。
After customers finish their coffee, they all stay to help.
We Could Not Finish the Puzzle
他们拼完天空，又拼完海边，却少了一块红屋顶。
They finish the sky and then finish the seaside, but one red-roof piece is missing.
We Could Not Finish the Puzzle
他们拼完天空，又拼完海边，却少了一块红屋顶。
They finish the sky and then finish the seaside, but one red-roof piece is missing.
We Could Not Finish the Puzzle
老板说，这盒拼图从来没有人拼完过。
The owner says no one has ever finished this puzzle.
We Could Not Finish the Puzzle
一个小孩把盒子翻完，连纸屑都倒出来。
A child finishes checking the box and even pours out the paper scraps.
Show 3 more story examples
We Could Not Finish the Puzzle
另一个客人看完桌面，发现木纹里有一点红色。
Another customer finishes looking over the tabletop and notices a bit of red in the wood grain.
We Could Not Finish the Puzzle
老板读完桌底的小字，才知道这是前老板开的玩笑。
After the owner finishes reading the small words under the table, she realizes it was a joke by the former owner.
We Could Not Finish the Puzzle
拼图终于拼完，咖啡店也第一次一起笑到打烊。
The puzzle is finally finished, and for the first time the whole café laughs together until closing.