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A2 verb #6,500 가장 일반적인 11분 분량

探望

tànwàng 상위 6,500

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 探望 30초 만에

설명 探望 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn how to express basic actions. While '探望' (tànwàng) might be a bit advanced, you can think of it as a special version of '看' (kàn - to see/visit). Imagine you have a friend who is sick in bed. You don't just 'see' them like you see a movie; you 'visit' them because you care. That is what '探望' means. At this stage, just remember that '探望' = 'visit a person'. You usually use it with words like '去' (qù - go) and '病人' (bìngrén - sick person). For example: '我去探望奶奶' (I go to visit Grandma). It is a polite and kind word to use. Don't worry about the complex characters yet; just focus on the sound 'tàn wàng' and the feeling of being a good friend or family member who checks on others. It is one of the first 'formal' verbs you might learn to show you are a polite person in Chinese culture.

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At the A2 level, you should start distinguishing between different types of visiting. While '看' is fine for seeing friends, '探望' is the specific word for visiting someone who is sick, elderly, or hasn't been seen in a long time. It shows a higher level of concern. You will often see this word in your textbooks when discussing hospitals or family duties. Grammatically, it's simple: Subject + 探望 + Person. You can also use '想' (xiǎng) to say 'I want to visit...'. A key tip for A2 learners: do not use this word for places like 'the park' or 'China'. It is only for people. If you use '探望' instead of '看' when visiting a sick classmate, your teacher will be very impressed with your vocabulary choice! It makes you sound more empathetic and knowledgeable about Chinese social norms.

As a B1 learner, you can now use '探望' in more complex sentences and understand its nuances. You should recognize that '探望' often implies a certain distance or a specific purpose. For instance, '专程探望' (zhuānchéng tànwàng) means to make a special trip just to visit someone. You might use this when talking about traveling back to your hometown. You should also be aware of the noun '探望权' (tànwàngquán) which refers to visitation rights in legal contexts, although the verb usage remains most common. B1 students should also start comparing '探望' with '拜访' (bàifǎng). Remember: '探望' is for care and health; '拜访' is for respect and formal social visits. If you are writing a short essay about your weekend, using '探望' to describe visiting your grandparents in the countryside adds a nice touch of descriptive detail and emotional depth to your writing.

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At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using '探望' in both spoken and written formal contexts. You understand that the word carries a connotation of 'checking up on' or 'providing emotional support'. You can use it in passive structures or with various resultative and directional complements. For example, '向外探望' (looking out/peering out) is a literary usage you should recognize. You should also be able to use '探望' in professional contexts, such as when a company representative visits an injured worker. At this level, you should also be sensitive to the register; '探望' is more formal than '看望'. In a formal speech or a news report, '探望' is the standard choice. You should also be able to explain the difference between '探望', '探视', and '慰问' to lower-level students, demonstrating your grasp of Chinese lexical nuances.

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C1 learners should appreciate the etymological roots of '探望' and its placement in literary Chinese. The character '探' (to explore/probe) suggests that the visitor is actively seeking information about the other person's state. You will encounter this word in modern literature to describe deep emotional connections or the fulfillment of heavy social obligations. At this level, you should be able to use the word in nuanced ways, such as describing a metaphorical 'visitation' of memories or ideas, although the literal meaning remains primary. You should also be proficient in using the word in legal, medical, and diplomatic contexts. For instance, how a diplomat might '探望' detained citizens of their country. Your use of '探望' should feel natural and appropriately timed to match the gravity of the situation you are describing.

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At the C2 level, '探望' is a tool for precise expression. You understand its subtle differences from '看望', '探访', and '拜会' in high-level diplomatic and political discourse. You can analyze how the word is used in classical-style modern prose to evoke a sense of traditional Chinese values. You might explore the word's usage in psychological contexts—how 'visiting' someone's inner world requires the same care and probing suggested by the characters. You are also aware of the word's rhythmic properties in four-character idioms or parallel structures in formal speeches. At this mastery level, you don't just use the word; you understand its cultural weight as a symbol of 'Ren' (benevolence) and social glue in the Sinosphere. You can use it to craft sentences that are not only grammatically perfect but also culturally resonant and emotionally precise.

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연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

探望 30초 만에

A formal and caring verb used to visit people in need of attention, such as the sick or elderly, emphasizing concern and social duty.
Must be used for people, never for places like museums or cities; it implies checking on someone's well-being or health status.
Commonly paired with directional verbs like '去' (go) or '来' (come) and often appears in hospital, family, and official news contexts.
Higher register than '看' (kàn) and more focused on health/concern than '拜访' (bàifǎng), which is for formal social or business respect.

The Chinese verb 探望 (tànwàng) is a sophisticated yet accessible term primarily used to describe the act of visiting someone. However, unlike the generic English word 'visit', 探望 carries a specific emotional weight and intentionality. It is most frequently employed when the person being visited is in a state that requires care, attention, or sympathy, such as being ill, elderly, or living in a remote or restricted location. The first character, 探 (tàn), suggests a sense of searching, probing, or reaching out, while the second character, 望 (wàng), implies looking toward or gazing at something with expectation or hope. Together, they form a word that means more than just showing up; it means showing up to check on someone's well-being.

Emotional Resonance: This word is deeply rooted in the Chinese value of filial piety and social cohesion. When you 探望 someone, you are fulfilling a social or moral duty to show that you care about their health and happiness.

我打算周末去医院探望生病的小王。 (I plan to go to the hospital this weekend to visit the sick Xiao Wang.)

In daily conversation, you will hear this word in contexts involving hospitals, nursing homes, or when someone has been away for a long time. It is less common for casual social gatherings like going to a friend's house to play video games; for those instances, '看' (kàn) or '玩' (wán) would be more appropriate. 探望 implies a certain level of formality and serious intent. It is the word of choice when a leader visits employees, a student visits a retired teacher, or a relative visits a family member in prison or a distant village. The nuance is always 'visiting to see how you are doing'.

Social Contexts: Commonly used by news anchors describing officials visiting disaster areas or by doctors discussing family visitation rights in a medical ward.

由于疫情，家属暂时不能进入病房探望病人。 (Due to the pandemic, family members are temporarily unable to enter the ward to visit patients.)

Furthermore, 探望 can also be used in more literary or formal written Chinese to describe looking out or peering from a distance, though its 'visit' meaning is overwhelmingly dominant in modern Mandarin. When you use it, you are signaling to your listener that your visit has a purpose beyond mere entertainment. You are bringing your presence as a form of support or respect. This makes it an essential word for navigating social obligations in Chinese-speaking cultures, where showing up for others during difficult times is a hallmark of good character.

Geographic Distance: It is often used when someone travels a long distance specifically to see someone, emphasizing the effort made to maintain the relationship.

他专程从北京飞往上海，只为探望多年未见的老友。 (He made a special trip from Beijing to Shanghai just to visit an old friend he hadn't seen in years.)

Using 探望 correctly requires understanding its grammatical placement as a transitive verb. The most basic structure is Subject + (Adverb) + 探望 + Object. The object is almost always a person or a group of people. Unlike 'visit' in English, which can apply to places (e.g., 'visit Paris'), 探望 is strictly for human subjects. You cannot '探望' a museum or a city. If you want to say you visited a place, you would use '参观' (cānguān) or '游览' (yóulǎn).

The 'Who' Matters: The object must be someone who receives the visit. Common objects include: 病人 (patients), 老人 (the elderly), 父母 (parents), 老师 (teachers), or 朋友 (friends).

孩子们经常去养老院探望那里的孤寡老人。 (Children often go to nursing homes to visit the lonely elderly people there.)

In terms of tense and aspect, 探望 functions like most Chinese verbs. You can add '了' (le) after it to indicate the visit has already happened. You can also use '想' (xiǎng), '要' (yào), or '打算' (dǎsuàn) before it to express intention. One common pattern is using '去' (qù) or '来' (lái) before 探望 to indicate movement towards the person being visited. For example, '去探望' (go to visit) or '回乡探望' (return to one's hometown to visit).

Adverbial Modification: You can modify the intensity or frequency with adverbs like 经常 (frequently), 定期 (regularly), or 专门 (specially).

他定期去监狱探望他的弟弟。 (He regularly goes to the prison to visit his younger brother.)

Another important aspect is the 'directional' usage. Sometimes 探望 is used to describe looking out from a window or around a corner. In this case, it is usually followed by a direction or a resultative complement. For example, '向外探望' (to peer outside). However, this is a secondary meaning. In 90% of CEFR A2-B1 contexts, you should focus on the 'visiting people' meaning. Remember that 探望 implies a gap—either a gap in health, a gap in distance, or a gap in time—that the visitor is trying to bridge with their presence.

Common Complements: Commonly paired with '过' (guò) to show past experience: '我以前探望过他' (I have visited him before).

她带着一束鲜花去医院探望刚做完手术的同事。 (She went to the hospital with a bouquet of flowers to visit a colleague who just finished surgery.)

In the real world, 探望 is a staple of news broadcasts, hospital corridors, and family discussions. If you are watching a Chinese news program, you will often see segments where government officials '探望' survivors of a natural disaster or '探望' veteran soldiers during the Spring Festival. In these contexts, the word emphasizes the government's care for its citizens. It conveys a sense of official concern and social responsibility.

Hospital Settings: You will see signs in hospitals that say '探望时间' (tànwàng shíjiān), which means 'visiting hours'. Nurses might ask you, '你是来探望哪位病人的？' (Which patient are you here to visit?)

医院规定每位病人的探望者不得超过两人。 (The hospital stipulates that the number of visitors for each patient shall not exceed two.)

In a professional setting, if a colleague is hospitalized, the HR department or a manager might organize a group to 探望 them. This is considered standard professional etiquette in China. Using the word 探望 in the office email about this event makes it sound proper and respectful. It distinguishes the visit from a casual lunch or a business meeting. It focuses on the human element of the workplace.

Holiday Traditions: During the Lunar New Year, young people '回乡探望父母' (return home to visit parents). This phrase is almost a cliché in Chinese media during the 'Chunyun' travel rush.

春节期间，他特意请假回老家探望年迈的奶奶。 (During the Spring Festival, he specifically took leave to return to his hometown to visit his elderly grandmother.)

You might also encounter this word in literature or high-end journalism when describing someone looking out from a high vantage point, though this is less common. For example, '他在窗前向外探望，寻找那个熟悉的身影' (He peered out from the window, searching for that familiar figure). In this sense, it captures a moment of searching or longing. However, in 99% of your interactions, you will use it to describe visiting people with a sense of care and duty.

Legal and Official Use: Used in legal documents regarding child custody (探望权 - visitation rights) or prison visitation rules.

离婚后，父亲依然享有对孩子的探望权。 (After the divorce, the father still enjoys visitation rights to the child.)

The most common mistake learners make with 探望 is using it to describe visiting a place. English speakers are used to saying 'I visited Japan' or 'I visited the Great Wall'. In Chinese, if you say '我探望了长城' (Wǒ tànwàngle Chángchéng), it sounds as if the Great Wall is a person who is sick or elderly and you went to check on its health. This is a humorous but incorrect usage. Always remember: 探望 is for people, not locations.

Incorrect Object: Wrong: 我想去探望北京。 (I want to visit Beijing.)
Right: 我想去北京旅游。 (I want to travel to Beijing.)

别说探望博物馆，要说参观博物馆。 (Don't say 'visit' [tànwàng] a museum; say 'visit' [cānguān] a museum.)

Another mistake is using 探望 for casual, fun-oriented visits. If you are going to a friend's house to watch a movie, using 探望 makes the situation sound overly grave or formal. Your friend might jokingly ask, 'Am I sick?' if you say you are coming to '探望' them. For casual meetups, use '看' (kàn) or '找' (zhǎo). 探望 implies that the person you are visiting is in a special condition (illness, old age, distance, or hardship) that warrants a visit of concern.

Confusion with 拜访 (bàifǎng): 拜访 is for formal social or business visits (like visiting a client or a famous scholar). 探望 is specifically about caring for someone's well-being.

如果你去见未来的岳父岳母，用“拜访”比“探望”更合适，除非他们生病了。 (If you go to see your future in-laws, 'bàifǎng' is more appropriate than 'tànwàng', unless they are sick.)

Learners also sometimes forget the directional '去' or '来'. While '探望他' is grammatically correct, '去探望他' is much more common in spoken Chinese as it emphasizes the action of going there. Lastly, ensure you don't confuse 探望 with 望探 (which is not a word) or 探听 (tàntīng - to scout/pry). The order of characters matters significantly in Chinese, and 探望 is a fixed compound that should be learned as a single unit of meaning.

Misuse in Slang: Avoid using this word in very informal slang contexts; it will make you sound like you are reading from a textbook in the middle of a nightclub.

在酒吧见朋友不能说“探望”。 (You cannot say 'tànwàng' when meeting friends at a bar.)

Understanding the subtle differences between 探望 and its synonyms will significantly elevate your Chinese fluency. The most basic alternative is 看 (kàn). While '看' literally means 'to see', in the context of people, it means 'to visit'. It is the most casual and versatile option. You can '看朋友', '看医生', or '看父母'. However, '看' lacks the deep sense of concern and formal respect that '探望' provides.

探望 vs. 拜访 (bàifǎng): 探望: Focuses on care, concern, and the well-being of the person (usually sick, old, or far away).
拜访: Focuses on social etiquette, respect, and formal purposes (visiting a teacher, a boss, or a client).

我打算去拜访王教授，请教一个学术问题。 (I plan to visit Professor Wang to ask about an academic question.)

Another similar word is 探视 (tànshì). This word is even more formal than 探望 and is almost exclusively used in institutional settings like hospitals or prisons. It refers to the official act of visiting during designated hours. While you might '探望' a friend in the hospital, the hospital's rules will refer to '探视规则' (visitation rules). Then there is 慰问 (wèiwèn), which means 'to express sympathy and solicitous regards'. This is often used by organizations or leaders visiting people who have suffered a loss or hardship.

探望 vs. 探访 (tànfǎng): 探访: Often implies searching for or seeking out someone or something, sometimes used by journalists or researchers.

记者深入灾区探访受灾群众。 (The reporter went deep into the disaster area to visit and interview the affected people.)

Finally, consider 看望 (kànwàng). In many contexts, 看望 and 探望 are interchangeable. However, 看望 is slightly more common in spoken Mandarin and feels a bit warmer and more personal, whereas 探望 feels a bit more formal and focused on the act of 'checking' or 'probing' the situation. If you are a beginner, '看' is your safe bet, but as you move to HSK 3/4 (CEFR A2/B1), mastering '探望' and '看望' will make your Chinese sound much more natural and empathetic.

Summary Table: 看: Casual/General. 探望: Caring/Formal. 拜访: Respectful/Business. 探视: Institutional/Legal. 慰问: Official Sympathy.

领导来到基层慰问困难群众。 (The leader came to the grassroots level to express sympathy to the people in difficulty.)

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

In ancient times, '探' was often used by scouts to explore enemy territory. Using it for visiting people today suggests a sense of 'going out of one's way' to find out how someone is doing.

발음 가이드

UK tæn.wæŋ

US tæn.wɔŋ

Both syllables are stressed as they both carry the fourth tone (falling).

라임이 맞는 단어

看望 (kànwàng) 盼望 (pànwàng) 期望 (qīwàng) 张望 (zhāngwàng) 愿望 (yuànwàng) 仰望 (yǎngwàng) 远望 (yuǎnwàng) 凝望 (níngwàng)

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing 'tàn' as 'tán' (rising tone), which sounds like 'to talk'.
Pronouncing 'wàng' as 'wǎng' (falling-rising), which sounds like 'towards' or 'net'.
Muddling the 'ng' sound at the end of 'wang'.
Using the first tone (flat) for both, making it sound robotic.
Confusing the 't' sound with a 'd' sound.

난이도

독해 3/5

The characters are somewhat complex but very common in news and textbooks.

쓰기 4/5

Writing '探' and '望' correctly requires practice with stroke order.

말하기 2/5

Two fourth tones are easy to pronounce if you remember the falling emphasis.

듣기 2/5

Very distinct sound, unlikely to be confused with many other common words.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

看 (kàn) 去 (qù) 医院 (yīyuàn) 朋友 (péngyou) 生病 (shēngbìng)

다음에 배울 것

拜访 (bàifǎng) 慰问 (wèiwèn) 探视 (tànshì) 照顾 (zhàogù) 健康 (jiànkāng)

고급

探望权 (tànwàngquán) 嘘寒问暖 (xūhánwènnuǎn) 身陷囹圄 (shēnxiànlíngyǔ)

알아야 할 문법

Transitive Verbs

探望 + Object (Person). You cannot say '探望去'.

Directional Verbs

去/来 + 探望. Indicates movement towards the person.

Time Phrases

Time + 探望. e.g., 周末去探望 (Visit on the weekend).

Adverbial Modification

Adverb + 探望. e.g., 经常探望 (Frequently visit).

Resultative Complements

探望过 (Have visited). Shows the action was completed in the past.

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수준별 예문

我去医院探望朋友。

I go to the hospital to visit a friend.

Subject + Place + 探望 + Person.

你想去探望奶奶吗？

Do you want to go visit Grandma?

Question form using '吗'.

老师去探望生病的学生。

The teacher goes to visit the sick student.

Simple SVO structure.

我们明天去探望他。

We will go to visit him tomorrow.

Time word '明天' at the beginning.

他常常探望他的父母。

He often visits his parents.

Adverb '常常' before the verb.

谁去探望王先生？

Who is going to visit Mr. Wang?

Question word '谁' as subject.

我带了水果去探望他。

I brought fruit to visit him.

Using '带了' to show an accompanying action.

他不在这里，他去探望朋友了。

He is not here; he went to visit a friend.

Using '了' to show completed action.

医生建议家属多来探望病人。

The doctor suggests that family members come to visit the patient more often.

Verb '建议' followed by a clause.

因为他住院了，所以我们去探望他。

Because he is hospitalized, we went to visit him.

Because... so... structure (因为...所以...).

我打算下个星期回老家探望爷爷。

I plan to return to my hometown to visit my grandfather next week.

Intention word '打算'.

她带了一些花去医院探望同事。

She took some flowers to the hospital to visit a colleague.

Measure word '一些' for flowers.

你什么时候有空去探望叔叔？

When do you have time to visit your uncle?

Time phrase '什么时候有空'.

探望病人的时候要保持安静。

You should keep quiet when visiting patients.

Using '...的时候' to mean 'when'.

他们专门开车去郊区探望老老师。

They specifically drove to the suburbs to visit their old teacher.

Adverb '专门' emphasizing purpose.

我很想去探望他，但是我太忙了。

I really want to visit him, but I am too busy.

Contrast using '但是'.

这位市长亲自到灾区探望受灾群众。

The mayor personally went to the disaster area to visit the affected people.

Adverb '亲自' (personally).

他在国外工作，每年只能回国探望一次父母。

He works abroad and can only return home to visit his parents once a year.

Frequency marker '一次' after the verb.

我们应该定期去探望那些孤寡老人。

We should regularly visit those lonely elderly people.

Adverb '定期' (regularly).

听说他受伤了，我立刻赶到医院去探望。

Hearing that he was injured, I immediately rushed to the hospital to visit.

Verb '赶到' indicating rushing to a place.

除了家属，其他人不能进病房探望。

Except for family members, others cannot enter the ward to visit.

Structure '除了...其他...' (Except... other...).

他虽然工作很忙，但还是抽空去探望了老友。

Although he is busy with work, he still made time to visit his old friend.

Structure '虽然...但还是...'.

探望权是法律赋予离婚父母的基本权利。

Visitation rights are a basic right granted by law to divorced parents.

Using '探望' as part of a noun phrase '探望权'.

她站在窗边向外探望，期待着丈夫归来。

She stood by the window peering out, looking forward to her husband's return.

Directional usage '向外探望'.

政府代表团前往敬老院，探望并慰问了那里的老人。

The government delegation went to the nursing home to visit and express sympathy to the elderly there.

Serial verb construction '探望并慰问'.

由于路途遥远，他很久没能回去探望双亲了。

Due to the long distance, he hasn't been able to go back to visit his parents for a long time.

Cause and effect using '由于'.

每逢佳节，他总会想起远在故乡、需要探望的亲人。

Every holiday, he always thinks of his relatives far away in his hometown who need visiting.

Structure '每逢...总会...'.

在探望期间，请务必遵守医院的相关规定。

During the visitation period, please be sure to abide by the hospital's relevant regulations.

Using '期间' to denote a time period.

他四处探望，试图在人群中找到他的接头人。

He looked around everywhere, trying to find his contact in the crowd.

Descriptive usage of looking around.

这次探望不仅是为了送礼，更是为了了解他的近况。

This visit was not only for giving gifts but more importantly to understand his recent situation.

Structure '不仅是...更是...'.

他因公殉职后，同事们经常去探望他的遗孀和孩子。

After he died in the line of duty, his colleagues often visited his widow and children.

Using '因公殉职' (died in line of duty) as context.

这种探望在某种程度上缓解了病人的孤独感。

This kind of visitation alleviated the patient's sense of loneliness to some extent.

Abstract subject '这种探望'.

他那深邃的目光透过窗棂向外探望，仿佛在审视整个时代。

His deep gaze peered out through the window lattice, as if examining the entire era.

Literary usage with metaphorical meaning.

国际红十字会获准探望那些被关押在秘密监狱的囚犯。

The International Red Cross was granted permission to visit those prisoners held in secret jails.

Formal passive-like structure '获准'.

即便在身陷囹圄之时，他依然渴望亲人的探望。

Even when imprisoned, he still longed for visits from his relatives.

Using the idiom '身陷囹圄' (to be in prison).

这种礼节性的探望虽然短暂，却体现了极高的政治修养。

This kind of ceremonial visit, though brief, reflects a high level of political cultivation.

Adjective '礼节性的' (ceremonial/courtesy).

他以探望老部下的名义，实则是在进行秘密的政治动员。

Under the guise of visiting old subordinates, he was actually conducting secret political mobilization.

Structure '以...的名义' (under the name of).

在那个动荡的年代，一次简单的探望往往意味着生命的托付。

In those turbulent years, a simple visit often meant the entrusting of one's life.

Abstract noun usage of '探望'.

他频繁地探望那些退伍老兵，以此彰显他对历史的尊重。

He frequently visits those veterans to demonstrate his respect for history.

Purpose clause '以此彰显'.

这种探望超越了物质的馈赠，是一种精神上的慰藉。

This kind of visit transcends material gifts and is a form of spiritual solace.

Using '超越' (to transcend).

他立于山巅，向云海深处探望，试图窥探天地的奥秘。

He stood at the mountain peak, peering into the depths of the sea of clouds, trying to pry into the mysteries of heaven and earth.

Highly poetic and metaphorical usage.

历史的探望并非为了沉溺于过去，而是为了更好地走向未来。

The visitation of history is not for wallowing in the past, but for better moving towards the future.

Personification of 'history'.

在某种哲学语境下，‘探望’被赋予了‘关怀存在’的深刻内涵。

In a certain philosophical context, 'tànwàng' is endowed with the profound connotation of 'care for existence'.

Academic passive structure '被赋予'.

外交辞令中的‘探望’往往承载着比词典定义更为复杂的利益博弈。

The word 'visit' in diplomatic parlance often carries a more complex game of interests than the dictionary definition.

Abstract noun '利益博弈' (game of interests).

他通过文字对他人的苦难进行探望，展现了文学的悲悯情怀。

He visits the suffering of others through his writing, showing the compassionate heart of literature.

Metaphorical usage of visiting suffering.

这种不期而至的探望，如同一场春雨，滋润了那颗干涸的心灵。

This unexpected visit, like a spring rain, moistened that parched soul.

Simile using '如同'.

在现代社会的疏离感中，‘探望’这一行为本身就具有某种神圣性。

In the sense of alienation in modern society, the act of 'visiting' itself possesses a certain sacredness.

Philosophical subject-predicate structure.

他每一次对故居的探望，都是一场与逝去时光的无声对话。

Every one of his visits to his former residence is a silent dialogue with lost time.

Metaphorical noun usage.

자주 쓰는 조합

探望病人

探望老人

探望权

专程探望

探望时间

回乡探望

进屋探望

经常探望

向外探望

秘密探望

자주 쓰는 구문

去探望

— To go and visit. The most common way to use the word in speech.

我明天去探望他。

来探望

— To come and visit. Used when the speaker is at the location of the person being visited.

谢谢你来探望我。

探望一下

— To have a quick visit or check-in. Softens the tone.

我下班后顺便去探望一下他。

想去探望

— Want to go visit. Expresses intention.

我很想去探望生病的老师。

没空探望

— No time to visit. Common excuse in busy lives.

他最近忙得没空探望父母。

打算探望

— Plan to visit. Used for future arrangements.

我们打算这周末去探望他。

带礼物探望

— To visit with gifts. A cultural standard in China.

他带着昂贵的补品去探望领导。

获准探望

— To be granted permission to visit. Formal/Legal.

记者获准探望了灾民。

拒绝探望

— To refuse visitation. Common in medical or prison contexts.

病人目前处于昏迷状态，医生拒绝探望。

轮流探望

— To take turns visiting. Common for sick relatives.

三兄弟轮流去医院探望父亲。

자주 혼동되는 단어

探望 vs 参观 (cānguān)

参观 is for visiting places (museums, schools); 探望 is for visiting people.

探望 vs 拜访 (bàifǎng)

拜访 is for formal/business respect; 探望 is for caring/health concern.

探望 vs 探听 (tàntīng)

探听 means to pry or scout for information; 探望 means to visit a person.

관용어 및 표현

"探头探脑"

— To pop one's head in and look about; to stick one's head out and peer around. Often describes suspicious or curious behavior.

他在门口探头探脑，不知道在找什么。

Informal/Descriptive

"望穿秋水"

— To gaze until one's eyes are tired; to look forward to something with eager longing. Often used for someone waiting for a visit.

奶奶望穿秋水，终于盼到了孙子来探望她。

Literary

"嘘寒问暖"

— To inquire after someone's well-being; to show great concern for someone's health and comfort. Often what happens during a 探望.

他来到病床前，对老友嘘寒问暖。

Formal

"走马观花"

— To look at flowers while riding a horse; to give a quick, superficial glance. The opposite of a meaningful 探望.

他这种探望只是走马观花，根本不关心病人的情况。

Idiomatic

"登门拜访"

— To visit someone's house personally. More formal than 探望, used for social respect.

过年时，他特意登门拜访了他的恩师。

Formal

"千里迢迢"

— Over a great distance. Often describes the journey made to 探望 someone.

他千里迢迢赶回来探望病危的母亲。

Literary

"关怀备至"

— To show every possible consideration; to be extremely thoughtful. Describes the quality of a good 探望.

医生对病人关怀备至，经常亲自探望。

Formal

"深情厚谊"

— Profound sentiment and deep friendship. The motivation behind a 探望.

这次探望体现了他们之间深情厚谊。

Literary

"喜出望外"

— To be overjoyed at an unexpected gain or visit.

看到老友来探望，他喜出望外。

General

"不远万里"

— Not minding traveling ten thousand miles. Used when someone travels far to visit.

他不远万里来到中国，只为探望当年的救命恩人。

Formal/Literary

혼동하기 쉬운

探望 vs 看望

They mean almost exactly the same thing.

探望 is slightly more formal and carries a sense of 'probing' or 'checking'. 看望 is warmer and more common in daily speech.

我去看望奶奶。 (Spoken) / 领导探望受灾群众。 (Formal)

探望 vs 探视

Both involve visiting.

探视 is restricted to institutional settings like hospitals or prisons and refers to the official right/act of visiting.

现在是探视时间。

探望 vs 慰问

Both involve showing care.

慰问 is an official expression of sympathy, often by a superior to an inferior or an organization to victims.

工会慰问了困难职工。

探望 vs 探访

Both involve visiting to see something.

探访 often implies an investigative or exploratory visit, like a reporter visiting a remote village.

记者探访了这座古村落。

探望 vs 见

Both mean 'to see/meet'.

见 is the simplest verb for meeting. 探望 implies the person being met needs care or hasn't been seen in a while.

我想见你。 vs 我想去探望你。

문장 패턴

我去探望[人]。

我去探望奶奶。

我想去医院探望[病人]。

我想去医院探望小王。

[时间]我回老家探望[人]。

春节我回老家探望父母。

[主语]专程去探望[人]。

他专程去探望生病的老师。

以[名义]去探望[人]。

他以老朋友的名义去探望他。

[主语]向[方向]探望。

他向窗外深情地探望。

General

[主语]定期探望[人]。

志愿者定期探望老人。

Legal

[主语]享有探望权。

父亲享有探望权。

어휘 가족

명사

探望者 (tànwàngzhě) - Visitor

探望权 (tànwàngquán) - Visitation rights

동사

探 (tàn) - To explore/probe

望 (wàng) - To look/hope

探视 (tànshì) - To visit (institutional)

探访 (tànfǎng) - To visit/interview

사용법

frequency

Very common in both written and spoken Chinese, especially in social and family contexts.

자주 하는 실수

探望北京 (Tànwàng Běijīng) → 去北京旅游 (Qù Běijīng lǚyóu)
探望 is only for people, not cities or places.
探望电影 (Tànwàng diànyǐng) → 看电影 (Kàn diànyǐng)
You cannot 'visit' a movie with concern. Use 看 for 'watch'.
探望老师 (for a business meeting) → 拜访老师 (Bàifǎng lǎoshī)
If the teacher isn't sick/old, and you are there for business/respect, 拜访 is better.
Pronouncing 'tàn' as 'tán' → tàn (4th tone)
Tán means 'to talk', which changes the meaning completely.
Using 探望 for a casual party → 找朋友玩 (Zhǎo péngyou wán)
探望 is too serious for a casual hangout or party.

팁

The Fruit Rule

When you 探望 a sick person, apples (苹果 píngguǒ) are the best gift because the word sounds like 'peace' (平安 píng'ān). Avoid pears!

Object First

Always remember: 探望 + Person. If you want to say 'visit a place', switch to 参观 or 旅游 immediately.

Be Respectful

Use 探望 when visiting teachers or elders. It shows you have a high level of 'Suoyang' (cultivation/politeness).

Tone Drop

Don't be afraid to emphasize the falling tones. Strong fourth tones in 探望 convey the seriousness and sincerity of your visit.

Hospital Signs

Look for 探望时间 on hospital signs. It’s a great way to see the word in a real-world environment.

Stroke Order

The character 探 has a hand radical (扌), which reminds you that visiting often involves a physical gesture or bringing a gift.

Word Pairs

Learn 探望 with 慰问 (wèiwèn). You will often see them together in news: '探望并慰问' (visit and express sympathy).

News Watch

Watch Chinese news during the Spring Festival. You will hear '探望' dozens of times as people travel home.

Probe and Look

Think of 'Probing' the situation and 'Looking' at the person. That is the essence of 探望.

Hometown Visits

Use '回乡探望' when talking about going back to your roots. It sounds much more poetic and meaningful than just '回家'.

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'TAN' (探) as 'Taking A Note' of someone's health, and 'WANG' (望) as 'Watching' them with care. You 'Take a note' and 'Watch' when you visit the sick.

시각적 연상

Imagine a hand (扌) reaching out to a person in a hospital bed, while the eye (part of 望) watches over them with a smile.

Word Web

探望 (Visit) 医院 (Hospital) 病人 (Patient) 老人 (Elderly) 礼物 (Gift) 关心 (Care) 朋友 (Friend) 家属 (Family)

챌린지

Try to use '探望' in a sentence today when talking about your grandparents or a friend who is feeling down. See if you can explain why you chose '探望' instead of '看'.

어원

The word is a combination of two ancient Chinese characters. '探' (tàn) originally depicted a hand reaching into a hole or vessel to search for something, evolving to mean 'probe' or 'inquire'. '望' (wàng) originally showed a person standing on a hill looking at the moon, signifying 'to look from afar' or 'to hope'.

원래 의미: To inquire and look; to check on someone's condition.

Sino-Tibetan / Sinitic

문화적 맥락

When visiting a patient, avoid bringing pears (梨 lí), as the word sounds like 'separation' (离 lí) in Chinese culture.

In English, we just say 'visit', but we often add 'check on' to get the same feeling as 探望.

News reports of Chinese presidents visiting disaster zones (探望灾民). The legal concept of '探望权' in the Civil Code of the PRC. Classical poems about visiting recluses or sick friends.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Hospital Visit

探望病人 (Visit patient)
探望时间 (Visiting hours)
带水果探望 (Visit with fruit)
早日康复 (Get well soon)

Visiting Elderly

探望老人 (Visit elderly)
回乡探望 (Return home to visit)
孝敬父母 (Show filial piety)
身体健康 (Good health)

Legal/Custody

探望权 (Visitation rights)
行使探望权 (Exercise visitation rights)
拒绝探望 (Refuse visitation)
探望孩子 (Visit child)

Official News

探望灾民 (Visit disaster victims)
亲切探望 (Warmly visit)
实地探望 (Visit on-site)
表达关心 (Express concern)

Literary/Peering

向外探望 (Peer outside)
四处探望 (Look around)
探头探脑 (Pop head in and out)
寻找身影 (Search for a figure)

대화 시작하기

"你最近去探望过你的爷爷奶奶吗？ (Have you visited your grandparents recently?)"

"如果朋友生病住院，你会带什么礼物去探望？ (If a friend is hospitalized, what gift would you bring to visit?)"

"医院的探望时间通常是什么时候？ (When are the visiting hours at the hospital usually?)"

"你觉得专程回老家探望父母重要吗？ (Do you think it's important to make a special trip to your hometown to visit your parents?)"

"你有没有过向窗外探望却发现惊喜的经历？ (Have you ever peered out a window and found a surprise?)"

일기 주제

写一段关于你上次去医院探望朋友的经历。你带了什么？你们聊了什么？ (Write about your last experience visiting a friend in the hospital. What did you bring? what did you talk about?)

讨论一下在你的文化中，探望病人和老人的重要性。 (Discuss the importance of visiting the sick and elderly in your culture.)

想象你是一个多年没回家的游子，描写你回乡探望父母时的心情。 (Imagine you are a traveler who hasn't been home for years; describe your feelings when returning home to visit your parents.)

比较‘看’、‘探望’和‘拜访’在不同场景下的用法。 (Compare the usage of 'kàn', 'tànwàng', and 'bàifǎng' in different scenarios.)

写一个故事，主角通过向窗外探望发现了一个秘密。 (Write a story where the protagonist discovers a secret by peering out a window.)

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No, you cannot. 探望 is strictly for visiting people, especially those who are sick or elderly. For a museum, you should use 参观 (cānguān).

Yes, 探望 is significantly more formal and carries an emotional tone of concern and care. Use 看 for casual hangouts and 探望 for hospitals or elderly relatives.

探望权 (tànwàngquán) means 'visitation rights'. It is a legal term used in divorce cases to describe the right of a non-custodial parent to visit their child.

If your boss is in the hospital, 探望 is perfect. If you are just visiting their office for a meeting, use 拜访 (bàifǎng) or 见 (jiàn) instead.

In Chinese culture, it is highly recommended. Bringing fruit, flowers, or health supplements shows that your 探望 is sincere and respectful.

They are very similar. 探望 feels a bit more formal and is common in news or literature. 看望 is more common in daily conversation and feels slightly more personal.

Yes, absolutely. It implies you haven't seen them for a while or they are going through a hard time and you want to check on them.

Both characters are fourth tone (falling). It sounds like 'TÀN-WÀNG'. Make sure both syllables drop in pitch.

Yes, in a literary sense, it can mean to peer out or look around, such as '向外探望' (peering outside). However, the 'visit' meaning is much more common.

Yes, it is a standard vocabulary word for HSK 4 (Level 4), which corresponds to CEFR B1/B2, though its basic meaning is often taught at A2.

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