Chinese word

懂

Pronunciation

Pinyindǒng

Meaning

  • verbunderstand

Example

我不太懂你的意思。wǒ bú tài dǒng nǐ de yì si

I don't really understand what you mean.

Illustration for 懂 (understand)

More examples

你说得太快，我听不懂。nǐ shuō de tài kuài wǒ tīng bù dǒng

You speak too fast, so I can't understand what you're saying.

Core concept

A clear inner grasp connects what someone hears or sees with how it works.

Common phrases

  • 听懂tīng dǒng

    understand by listening

  • 看懂kàn dǒng

    understand by reading

  • 懂意思dǒng yì si

    understand the meaning

Similar words

知道zhī dào: To know a fact or piece of information.
听懂tīng dǒng: To grasp the meaning of spoken words by listening.
看懂kàn dǒng: To grasp the meaning shown in written words, pictures, or signs.
明白míng bái: To understand a matter or reason clearly.

Definition in Chinese

表示理解或明白某件事、道理或别人所说的话，也可表示对做法或技巧有把握。biǎo shì lí jiě huò míng bái mǒu jiàn shì dào lǐ huò bié rén suǒ shuō de huà yě kě biǎo shì duì zuò fǎ huò jì qiǎo yóu bǎ wò

Word origin

懂 (dǒng, "understand") combines 忄 (xīn, "heart") + 董 (dǒng, "oversee"), with the first part showing meaning and the second mainly supplying sound.

Usage tips

  • This verb can describe emotional understanding too, so it can refer to why a friend feels upset, not only to school information.

Other meanings

  • knowverb
  • knowledgeableadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word