了解 liǎojiě understand, find out
comprehend; understand; know; find out
How to remember 了解: 了 particle: completed action / change of state + 解 to explain = understand, find out. Untie a knot to the end and see how it was made: that is to understand it.
Characters
Story
Untie a knot to the end and see how it was made: that is to understand it.
How it is used
- Know well / be familiar with (people, situations), or find out - 我很了解他 (wǒ hěn liǎojiě tā) I know him well; 了解一下情况 (liǎojiě yíxià qíngkuàng) get a sense of the situation.
- Contrast 知道 (zhīdào, know a fact) and 认识 (rènshi, be acquainted): 了解 is deeper, thorough understanding, not just awareness.
- 了 here reads liǎo (to grasp), not the particle le - 了解 is one word, don't mis-split it.
Example sentences
- 我了解你。 Wǒ liǎojiě nǐ.I get you.
- 你了解它吗 Nǐ liǎojiě tā maDo you know it?
- 这个我了解了。 Zhège wǒ liǎojiě le.I understood this.