不见

• Pinyin: bù jiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = negation; 见 = 目 (eye) + 儿, to see

Meaning

To disappear; to be missing; not to see. Indicates something has gone missing or cannot be found.

Used when something that should be present has vanished or when someone/something is no longer visible. Often appears in phrases like 不见了 (it's gone) or 不见踪影 (no trace to be found). Can also mean 'unless one sees' in classical expressions like 不见棺材不落泪.

Examples

1. 我的钥匙不见了，找了半天也没找到。 My keys are missing — I've been looking for ages but can't find them.
2. 太阳落山后，小鸟们也不见了踪影。 After the sun set, the birds also disappeared without a trace.
3. 这本书在书架上放了十年，最近突然不见了。 This book had been on the shelf for ten years, but recently it suddenly went missing.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, searching

Tone: concerned

Do Say

• 我的手机不见了！(My phone is missing!)
• 好久不见，你最近怎么样？(Long time no see, how have you been?)

Don't Say

• 不要用'不见'表示故意藏起来 (Don't use 不见 for intentionally hiding something — use 藏起来了 instead; 不见 implies unexpected disappearance)

Origin & History

Combination of 不 (not) + 见 (to see). Originally meant 'not seeing,' evolved to express disappearance or absence.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal