HSK 4 看 vs 望
Look (general) vs gaze into the distance — when you can't just say 看
Comparison / 对比
| 看 kàn | 望 wàng | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | To look, see, watch (general purpose) | To look INTO THE DISTANCE; to visit (formal) |
| Common use | 看电影 / 看书 / 看医生 / 看电视 / 看朋友 | 望远 / 望天 / 探望病人 / 一望无际 |
| Direction | Any direction, any distance | Far, often horizontal, often outward |
| Register | Spoken, everyday | Slightly literary; mostly compound or fixed |
Examples / 例句
Fill in the Blank / 填空练习
Type the correct word to complete each sentence. Press Enter or click Check.
Quick Quiz / 小测验
Real HSK 4 Test Questions Using 看 or 望 / 真题示例
2 actual HSK 4 questions from our mock exams that test the 看 vs 望 distinction:
看 vs 望 FAQ
Are 看 and 望 interchangeable in HSK 4?
No. Although 看 (kàn) and 望 (wàng) translate similarly into English, HSK 4 fill-in-the-blank and listening questions test exactly the distinction between them. 看 is the everyday default — use it 95% of the time.
How is 看 vs 望 tested in HSK 4?
Most often in HSK 4 阅读 (reading) Part 1 选词填空 (Q46-55), where you choose the correct word for a blank in a sentence. Also appears in 听力 (listening) where the speaker uses one but the printed answer paraphrases with the other. Master both 看 and 望 collocations to lock in these points.
What's the quickest way to remember 看 vs 望?
看 is the everyday default — use it 95% of the time. 望 implies looking far away (远方/远处) or carries the formal sense of 'visiting' someone (探望/看望病人). HSK 4 uses 望 mainly in compound words: 望远镜 (binoculars), 一望无际 (boundless), 探望 (to visit a patient/elder), 失望 (disappointed). You won't use 望 alone often — but recognize it. Practice 3-5 fill-in-blank questions in our HSK 4 mock exams to lock the distinction.