Definitions

dǒng (verb) to understand; to comprehend

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "懂" is constructed from the semantic component 忄, representing the heart or mind, combined with 董 which historically conveys notions of supervision or direct management, and here primarily serves a phonetic function. Its core meaning, to understand or comprehend, developed from an earlier and broader sense of perceiving or grasping something mentally, reflecting how intellectual apprehension was conceptually linked to the heart-mind in classical Chinese thought. Over centuries, its usage narrowed and solidified to specifically denote a clear, practical understanding of affairs, principles, or skills, moving from a general perception to an active state of knowing how something works or what it means.

Example Sentences Hide

你的意思。

Wǒ dǒng nǐ de yìsi.

I understand what you mean.

很多知识。

Tā dǒng hěn duō zhīshi.

He knows a lot of knowledge.

我们要得分享。

Wǒmen yào dǒngde fēnxiǎng.

We should know how to share.

你不我的心。

Nǐ bù dǒng wǒ de xīn.

You don't understand my heart.

这个故事吗?

Nǐ dǒng zhège gùshì ma?

Do you understand this story?

她完全我的想法。

Tā wánquán dǒng wǒ de xiǎngfǎ.

She completely understands my thoughts.

如果你英语,就能看这本书。

Rúguǒ nǐ dǒng Yīngyǔ, jiù néng kàn dǒng zhè běn shū.

If you understand English, you can understand this book.

尽管他解释了很久,但我还是不

Jǐnguǎn tā jiěshìle hěn jiǔ, dàn wǒ háishì bù dǒng.

Even though he explained for a long time, I still don't understand.