dǒng

FromLesson 6inHardcore Chinese

Usages of dǒng

我wǒ　以前yǐqián　不bù　懂dǒng　这zhè　个gè　意思yìsi。wǒ yǐqián bù dǒng zhè gè yìsi.

I didn’t understand this meaning before.

她tā　现在xiànzài　懂dǒng　了le，　我wǒ　也yě　懂dǒng　了le。tā xiànzài dǒng le, wǒ yě dǒng le.

Now she understands, and I understand too.

请qǐng　你nǐ　认真rènzhēn　地de　看kàn，　然后ránhòu　告诉gàosu　我wǒ　你nǐ　懂dǒng　不bù　懂dǒng。qǐng nǐ rènzhēn de kàn, ránhòu gàosu wǒ nǐ dǒng bù dǒng.

Please look carefully, then tell me whether you understand.

其实qíshí　这zhè　个gè　问题wèntí　不bù　难nán，　别bié　担心dānxīn，　你nǐ　试试shìshi　就jiù　懂dǒng　了le。qíshí zhè gè wèntí bù nán, bié dānxīn, nǐ shìshi jiù dǒng le.

Actually this question isn’t hard; don’t worry—try and you’ll get it.

这zhè　个gè　问题wèntí　我wǒ　一点儿yìdiǎnr　也yě　不bù　懂dǒng。zhè gè wèntí wǒ yìdiǎnr yě bù dǒng.

I don't understand this question at all.

我wǒ　懂dǒng　他tā　的de　话huà。wǒ dǒng tā de huà.

I understand his words.

我wǒ　完全wánquán　懂dǒng　了le。wǒ wánquán dǒng le.

Now I understand completely.

我wǒ　根本gēnběn　不bù　懂dǒng。wǒ gēnběn bù dǒng.

I do not understand at all.

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Mandarin Chinese has four main tones plus a neutral tone. The same syllable can mean completely different things depending on the tone — for example, "mā" (mother), "má" (hemp), "mǎ" (horse), and "mà" (scold). Mastering tones is essential for being understood.

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