Chinese phrases
How to say I don’t understand in Chinese
I don’t understand in Chinese is 我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bu dǒng) when you can’t follow what someone says. For something you read, say 我看不懂 (wǒ kàn bu dǒng).
我听不懂
I don’t understand (what I hear)
The 不 in the middle is light and short: tīng bu dǒng.
Ways to say I don’t understand
我听不懂
EverydayI don’t understand (what I hear)
You heard it but can’t follow: too fast, too many new words, a strong accent.
我看不懂
EverydayI can’t read this; I don’t understand it
For something you read: a menu, a sign, a form.
我不明白
EverydayI don’t get it
You understand the words but not the point or the reason: 我不明白为什么, “I don’t see why.”
我不太懂
EverydayI don’t quite understand
Softer and more polite. Good with a teacher or at work.
我没听清
On the phoneI didn’t catch that
On a bad line or a noisy street. The problem is the sound, not your Chinese.
没看懂
Textingdidn’t get it
In a chat, about a message or a joke you just read.
Ask for help
请再说一遍
please say that again
The polite way to ask someone to repeat.
请说慢一点
please speak more slowly
Polite and clear. With friends, 慢点说 is enough.
什么意思
what does it mean?
Repeat the word or point at it: 这个是什么意思?
用英语怎么说
how do you say it in English?
When you follow everything except one word.
这个字怎么读
how do you read this character?
For a character you can’t pronounce.
Common mistakes
Putting 不 before 听
The 不 goes between the verb and its result: 听不懂, 看不懂. The positive is 听得懂, “can understand.”
Saying 不知道 for “I don’t understand”
不知道 means “I don’t know.” If you didn’t follow the question, say 我听不懂, or people will think you just don’t know the answer.
Using 听不懂 for something you read
听 is to listen. For a sign, a menu or a message, say 看不懂.
At a market
三十五一个，两个六十。
Seller: Thirty-five each, two for sixty.
不好意思，我听不懂。请说慢一点。
Leon: Sorry, I don’t understand. Please speak more slowly.
一个，三十五块。
Seller: One, thirty-five yuan.
明白了，谢谢！
Leon: Got it, thanks!
