TongTong
Sign in

了解 (liǎo jiě) — to understand, to realize; to find out

Definition

了解 is everyday 'to understand' or 'to find out' — broader than 理解 (deeper comprehension) and more casual than 认知. Often used with 对 + topic: 对…很了解 means 'to know (a subject) well'.

verb
to understandto realizeto find out

Examples

  • 了解。
    Wǒ liǎo jiě nǐ wèi shén me bù gāo xìng.
    I understand why you are unhappy.
  • 了解。
    Wǒ xiǎng liǎo jiě yí xià qíng kuàng.
    I want to find out the situation.
  • 了解。
    Tā duì zhōng guó wén huà hěn liǎo jiě.
    He understands Chinese culture well.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

了liǎounderstand
解jiěunderstand

了 and 解 both mean to understand, so together they express knowing or finding out.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

了 was once drawn to show a baby with no arms; some old comments say it showed crossed or tangled legs.

Open 了 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsThinking & Cognition2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.