Learn Hardcore Japanese: setumei wo kikimasita ga, mada gaikoku no bunka wo rikaisite imasen. - I listened to the explanation, but I still don’t understand foreign culture.

The particle を marks the direct object of an action. Here, 説明 (“explanation”) is what you “listened to,” so you attach を to show that 説明 is the object of 聞きました (“listened”).

What does the が at the end of 聞きましたが do?

In this context, が is a conjunction meaning “but” or “however.” It connects the first clause (“I listened to the explanation”) with the second clause (“I still don’t understand foreign culture”), indicating contrast.

Why is まだ placed before 理解していません, and what nuance does it add?

まだ means “still” or “not yet.” When it precedes a negative verb, it emphasizes that the action/state has not been achieved up to now. So まだ理解していません literally means “I have not yet come to understand,” i.e. “I still don’t understand.”

What is the role of ～ていません in 理解していません?

～ていません is the negative form of ～ている, which expresses a continuous or resultant state. 理解している would mean “to be in the state of having understood.” By using 理解していません, you’re saying “I am not (in that state of) having understood.”

Why is there a の between 外国 and 文化?

The particle の indicates a possessive or descriptive relationship. 外国の文化 literally means “the culture of foreign countries,” i.e. “foreign culture.”

Why is 聞きました in the past tense but 理解していません in the present negative form?

You use 聞きました (past) because the act of listening to the explanation is completed. In contrast, 理解していません (present negative/resultant state) describes your current state—namely

Why is を used after 説明 in 説明を聞きました?

The particle を marks the direct object of the verb. Here, 説明 (“explanation”) is what you listened to, so you attach を to show that 説明 is the target of 聞きました (“listened”).

Why is 聞きました in the past tense and polite form instead of 聞く or 聞いた?

Past tense (聞きました) indicates the listening action has been completed.
Polite form (〜ました) is commonly used in formal or polite contexts.
If you say 聞く, that’s non-past and more casual (“I listen”), and 聞いた would be past but plain form (less polite).

What function does the が have after 聞きました?

In this compound sentence, が acts as the conjunction “but” or “however,” linking the first clause (“I listened to the explanation”) to the second (“I still don’t understand foreign culture”) and expressing contrast.

Why is まだ placed before 理解していません, and what nuance does it add?

まだ means “still” or “not yet.” Placed before a negative verb, it emphasizes that the action or state has not been achieved up to now. So まだ理解していません literally means “I have not yet understood,” i.e. “I still don’t understand.”

What is the structure ～ていません in 理解していません, and why use it?

～ていません is the negative form of ～ている, which expresses a continuous state or resultant condition.

理解している = “be in the state of having understood.”
理解していません = “am not in that state,” i.e. “have not (yet) understood.”

Why is there a の between 外国 and 文化 in 外国の文化?

The particle の links nouns in a descriptive or possessive way. 外国の文化 literally means “the culture of foreign countries,” i.e. “foreign culture.”

Why are there two を particles in this sentence (after 説明 and after 文化)?

Each を marks a different direct object for its verb:

説明を聞きました → you listened to the explanation.
文化を理解していません → you don’t understand the culture.
They serve the same grammatical role in their respective clauses.

There’s no subject like 私は in this sentence. Why is it omitted?

Japanese often omits subjects when they’re clear from context. Here, it’s understood that I (the speaker) is both the listener and the one who doesn’t understand, so 私は isn’t necessary.