懂 dǒng — to understand, to grasp
dǒng (third tone, dipping)dong3
to understand, to grasp
HSK 2· HSK 1–4 (classic)verb
Meanings
to understand, to grasp
To understand the meaning of something — words, an explanation, an intention. It is about comprehension, not about holding a piece of information, which is 知道.
verb
Example sentences
- 你懂我的意思吗？你懂我的意思嗎？Nǐ (third tone, dipping) dǒng (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) yìsi (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone)···
Do you see what I mean?
- 他说得很快，我不懂。他說得很快，我不懂。Tā (first tone, high and level) shuō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) hěn (third tone, dipping) kuài, (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) bù (fourth tone, falling) dǒng. (third tone, dipping)···
He speaks so fast that I don’t understand.
Common mistakes
Not quite我不懂他的名字。
Correct我不知道他的名字。
A name is a fact you either have or lack, so it takes 知道. 懂 is for meaning you work out — a sentence, a rule, someone’s point.