:to know the meaning of (something, such as the words that someone is saying or a language):comprehend懂得,明白,理解(某人所说的话或一门语言等)
[+ object]
Do you understand English?你懂英语吗?
“Did you understand what he said?” “Not a word (of it).”“你明白他说什么吗?”“一点都不明白。”
I can't understand a word you're saying.你说的话我一点都不明白。
I don't understand these directions.我看不懂这些说明。
I didn't understand what you told me. = I didn't understand you.我没理解你跟我说的话。
If I understand you correctly [=if I understand what you are saying correctly], this needs to be changed.如果我没理解错,你是说这需要改一下。
[no object]
I want you to stay away from her. Do you understand?我要你离她远点,听明白了吗?
The work has to be finished today. Understand? [=do you understand what I am telling you?]这项工作今天必须完成,听明白了吗?
2
[+ object]:to know how (something) works or happens了解,明白(某事物)
They understand local politics.他们了解当地政治。
I don't understand how this is supposed to work.我不明白这应该怎么运作。
He doesn't really understand the situation.他并非真的了解情况。
You should read the book in order to understand more about the subject.你应该读读那本书,好对这门学科有更多了解。
I can't understand why she would do such a thing.我无法理解她为何会做那种事。
She's beginning to understand what's going on.她渐渐开始明白正在发生什么事情了。
You have to understand that I had no other choice.你得明白我那时别无选择。
We still don't fully understand the causes of the disease. = The causes of the disease are still not fully understood.我们尚未完全了解这种病的成因。
3
a [+ object]:to know how (someone) thinks, feels, or behaves了解,理解(某人)
I understand [=know] him well enough to know that he won't want to go.我非常了解他,知道他不会想去。
She understands children.她了解孩子。
At first we didn't get along, but I think we understand each other now.最初我们合不来,但现在我认为我们彼此了解了。
b :to feel sympathy for someone's feelings or situation体谅,同情,理解(某人的感受或处境)
[+ object]
She had a similar experience, so she understands what I'm going through.她有过相似的经历,所以很同情我现在的遭遇。
I can understand your/you feeling annoyed. [=I think you have good reason for feeling annoyed]你感到恼火,我能理解。
[no object]
They will understand if you need some time off.你若想休假一段时间,他们会体谅的。
My cousin doesn't understand about these things.我表弟不理解这些事。
4
[+ object]
a :to think or believe (something)认为;以为
She was given to understand [=she was led to believe] that the job was hers.她误以为这份工作是派给她的。
— used to say what you believe to be true based on what you have heard, read, etc.得知;听说;获悉
I understand that they will arrive today.我听说他们会今天到。
As I understand it, this has been a problem for several years.据我所知,这个问题已存在好些年了。
I understand that some doctors disagree.我得知有些医生不同意。
He understood that he would be paid for the work.他听说干这项工作是有报酬的。
b — used to say that something is agreed to or accepted and does not need to be discussed达成共识;默许; — usually used as (be) understood通常用作(be) understood
It's understood that more time will be needed. [=we all know/accept that more time will be needed]大家都认为需要更多时间。
He believed it was understood [=believed that everyone had agreed] that he would be paid for the work.他认为大家都同意付钱让他干这活儿。
5
[+ object]:to think that (something) has a particular meaning:interpret把…理解为;把…诠释为
I understood the letter to be a refusal.我把这封信理解为拒绝。
6
[+ object] — used to say that a word or phrase is thought of as having been said even though it is not actually said领会,推断出(省略的词或短语) — usually used as (be) understood通常用作(be) understood
When people say “they're engaged,” the phrase “to be married” is understood. [=“they're engaged” is understood to mean “they're engaged to be married”]当人们说they're engaged这个句子时,实际上指they're engaged to be married。
understand may, however, stress the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.
orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed
comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.
I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this
appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.
failed to appreciate the risks involved
Example Sentences
I can't understand a word you're saying. I don't understand these directions. I want you to stay away from her. Do you understand? I don't understand how this is supposed to work. He doesn't really understand the situation. You should read the book in order to understand more about the subject. I can't understand why she would do such a thing. She's beginning to understand what's going on. You have to understand that I had no other choice. At first we didn't get along, but I think we understand each other now. See More
Recent Examples on the WebTo understand why the new president hoped to channel Adams’ spirit is to discover not only where a daring revolutionary came from but where a revolution did. Stacy Schiff, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Sep. 2022 Even though there is this power crisis, this political corruption, this corporatization, this gentrification, there still is a lot of love in Puerto Rico, and that’s what sometimes people don’t understand. Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2022 For those of us from immigrant families whose parents don’t always understand why journalism is worth the hours, a mug from Henry was a lifeline.Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2022 Moths keep flapping into lightbulbs for reasons scientists still don't quite understand. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 In a cover interview for ELLE's October issue, the model, 42, shared that her 9-year-old daughter Vivian didn't quite understand all the behind-the-scene happenings when recently attending a fashion shoot with her mom. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 People on both sides of these conflicts typically don’t understand what is going on. Paul Podolsky, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Part of the problem is that most people don’t understand the risks involved in getting sick with the virus. Steven Lemongello, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Bill Belichick doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English understandan, from under + standan to stand
ADVERB | VERB + UNDERSTAND | PREPOSITION | PHRASESADVERB➤clearly, well清楚地/很好地理解▸➤completely, fully, perfectly, quite, thoroughly, totally, truly充分理解;完全理解;相當理解;徹底理解;真正理解◇I fully understand the reason for your decision.我完全理解你作出這一決定的理由。➤better更好地理解◇These categories help us to better understand our readers.這些類別有助於我們更好地理解我們的讀者。➤not really, not truly不十分理解;沒有真正理解◇Her actions wounded him in a way he did not really understand.她的行為傷害了他,但他也不太明白是如何傷害的。➤not necessarily不一定理解◇They won't necessarily understand the pros and cons of the matter.他們不一定理解這件事的利與弊。➤not entirely, partially不完全/部份理解◇a complex topic which I only partially understand一個我只能部份理解的複雜話題➤barely, hardly幾乎不能理解◇I could barely understand a word of his story.他的故事我幾乎一個字都沒聽懂。➤adequately充分理解▸➤accurately, correctly, precisely, properly, rightly準確地/正確地/精確地/恰當地/確切地理解◇If I've understood you correctly...如果我對你的話理解得沒錯⋯➤easily, readily容易理解;易於明白◇The reasons for this decision are not easily understood.作出這個決定的原因很難讓人理解。➤immediately, instantly, quickly, suddenly馬上/立刻/迅速/突然明白◇The girl understands immediately and promises to be more careful.女孩立刻就明白了,並保證會更仔細些。➤finally終於明白◇I finally understood what she meant.我終於理解了她的意思。➤instinctively, intuitively本能地明白;憑直覺理解◇She intuitively understood his need to be alone.她憑直覺就知道他需要獨處。VERB + UNDERSTAND➤be able to, can能夠理解◇I can't understand what all the fuss is about.我不明白為什麼這樣大驚小怪。➤be unable to, fail to不能夠/未能理解▸➤attempt to, hope to, seek to, strive to, try to試圖理解;希望理解;盡力理解◇Only specialists can hope to understand them.只有專家才有望理解他們。➤struggle to努力理解◇a woman struggling to understand an incomprehensible situation一位努力去理解異常複雜局勢的女性➤help (to), help sb (to)有助於/幫助某人理解▸➤begin to, start to開始理解➤come to, learn to逐步/學會理解◇We came to understand why certain things happened in certain ways.我們逐步理解了為什麼有些事情會以特定方式發生。◇She soon learnt to understand English.她很快就學會了英語。➤appear to, seem to好像/似乎理解➤claim to聲稱理解◇I don't claim to understand it.我不敢說懂這個。➤be easy to, be simple to容易理解;好理解▸➤be difficult to, be hard to難理解◇It is difficult to understand why he reacted in that way.很難理解他為什麼會有那樣的反應。PREPOSITION➤about瞭解⋯◇We understand little about this disease.對於這種病,我們知之甚少。➤as理解為⋯◇These beliefs are best understood as a form of escapism.對這些信仰的最恰當解讀是將其理解為一種對現實的逃避。PHRASES➤be commonly understood, be generally understood, be popularly understood通常被理解為◇What is generally understood by 'democracy'?對“民主”的一般理解是什麼?➤be imperfectly understood, be incompletely understood, be poorly understood對⋯瞭解不夠;對⋯不清楚◇The effects of these chemicals on the body are still poorly understood.這些化學品對身體的影響還不太清楚。➤be universally understood, be widely understood被普遍/廣泛瞭解