verb HSK 4
to visit · to call on · to see (someone)
Meaning
看望 means to visit someone, especially to see how they are doing or to show care and concern. It is commonly used when visiting someone who is sick, elderly, or whom you haven't seen in a while. The visit typically involves checking on their wellbeing and spending time with them.
Usage
看望 is more formal and considerate than simply 看 (to see). It emphasizes the caring nature of the visit and is frequently used with people in hospitals, nursing homes, or relatives you want to show respect to. Common with objects like 病人 (sick people), 老人 (elderly), 朋友 (friends), or 亲戚 (relatives).
Examples
- 01周末我打算去医院看望生病的朋友。.This weekend I plan to go to the hospital to visit my sick friend.
- 02春节的时候，我们全家去看望了奶奶。, .During Spring Festival, our whole family went to visit Grandma.
Characters
Measure words
- 次看望了他两次
Common collocations
- 看望病人to visit a sick person
- 看望父母to visit one's parents
- 去看望to go visit
- 看望老人to visit the elderly
Origin
The combination of 看 (to look/see) and 望 (to gaze/look into distance) creates the meaning of visiting with the purpose of seeing and caring for someone's condition.