明白 míngbai clear
clear; obvious; understand; explicit
How to remember 明白: 明 bright + 白 white = clear.
Characters
How it is used
- "understand, be clear" - 明白了吗? (míngbai le ma?) got it? 我不明白 I don't understand.
- The click of comprehension, once something is explained. Contrast 懂 (dǒng, grasp/know a subject) and 知道 (zhīdào, know a fact).
- As an adjective it means clear/plain: 说明白 (shuō míngbai) say it clearly.
Example sentences
- 不明白。 Bù míngbái.I don't understand.
- 你明白了吗？ Nǐ míngbai le ma?Do you understand?
- 你们明白我的意思了吗？ Nǐmen míngbai wǒ de yìsi le ma?Do you understand what I mean?