Chinese word

理解

Pronunciation

Pinyinlǐ jiě

Meaning

  • verbunderstand

Example

我已经理解你的意思了。wǒ yǐ jīng lí jiě nǐ de yì si le

I already understand what you mean.

Illustration for 理解 (understand)

More examples

这个笑话太冷，我实在理解不来。zhè ge xiào huà tài lěng wǒ shí zài lí jiě bù lái

This joke is so lame that I really cannot understand it.

Core concept

A clear mental grasp brings the reasons, connections, or meaning of a matter together as a whole.

Common phrases

  • 理解问题lí jiě wèn tí

    understand a problem

  • 难以理解nán yǐ lí jiě

    be hard to understand

Similar words

懂dǒng: To know what words mean or how a basic method works.
明白míng bái: To see the meaning or reason clearly without any doubt or confusion.
了解liáo jiě: To know about and understand what someone says or what has happened to them.

Definition in Chinese

对某件事的原因、关系或含义有清楚的认识，能够把握其要点并在思维上说得明白或解释清楚。duì mǒu jiàn shì de yuán yīn guān xì huò hán yì yǒu qīng chǔ de rèn shí néng gòu bǎ wò qí yào diǎn bìng zài sī wéi shàng shuō de míng bái huò jiě shì qīng chǔ

Word origin

理 (lǐ, "reason") + 解 (jiě, "untangle") presents clear thinking as untangling a matter until its meaning and inner connections come into view.

Usage tips

  • When the object is a person's choice or situation, it can show awareness of the reasons behind it without showing approval.

Other meanings

  • appreciateverb
  • graspverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 理解力lí jiě lìcomprehensionnoun

Word lists with this word