Chinese word

了解

Pronunciation

Pinyinliǎo jiě

Meaning

  • verbunderstand

Example

我不太了解你的想法。wǒ bú tài liáo jiě nǐ de xiáng fǎ

I don't quite understand your idea.

Illustration for 了解 (understand)

More examples

你能把问题说清楚，让我了解情况吗？nǐ néng bǎ wèn tí shuō qīng chǔ ràng wǒ liáo jiě qíng kuàng ma

Can you explain the problem clearly so I can understand the situation?

Core concept

A message is taken in until its meaning is clear enough to acknowledge or act on.

Common phrases

  • 了解情况liáo jiě qíng kuàng

    understand the situation

  • 深入了解shēn rù liáo jiě

    understand deeply

  • 了解自己liáo jiě zì jǐ

    understand yourself

Similar words

理解lí jiě: Understand the meaning or situation in depth, including the ideas or reasons involved.
懂dǒng: Come to understand what something means after hearing an explanation or experiencing it.
知道zhī dào: Have knowledge of a fact, detail, or piece of information.

Definition in Chinese

作为对话语或指示的简短回应，表示已知、收到或会照办zuò wéi duì huà yǔ huò zhǐ shì de jián duǎn huí yìng biǎo shì yǐ zhī shōu dào huò huì zhào bàn

Word origin

了解 (liǎojiě, "understand") combines 了 (liǎo, "finish") + 解 (jiě, "untangle or understand"), suggesting that a matter has been fully made clear.

Usage tips

  • As a short reply in a work or group chat, this word can sound brisk and businesslike, whereas a fuller reply creates a warmer conversational tone.

Other meanings

  • graspverb
  • be aware ofverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word