understand
/ˌʌndəˈstænd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-dər-ˈstand/ (ame, mw)
understand — 動詞
- understandpresent simple I / you / we / they
- understandshe / she / it
- understoodpast simple
- understandinghe / she / it
1. to know what spoken or written words, a language, or a message means
理解；懂
明白話語或文字的意思
to know what spoken or written words, a language, or a message means
Faisal listened carefully and understood every instruction the pilot gave.
Faisal 仔細聆聽，理解了機長給的每一項指示。
understand + noun phrase (instruction)
Nadia could not understand the question on the application form.
Nadia 看不懂申請表上的問題。
understand + noun phrase (question)
Aylin understands Spanish well but still struggles to speak it fluently.
Aylin 西文聽力很好，但要流利地說還不太行。
Eli read the chapter twice before he understood what the author meant.
Eli 把文章讀了兩遍，才明白作者的意思。
The child nodded to show that she understood the story.
那個小孩點點頭，表示聽懂了故事。
- comprehend
more formal; used in academic or technical contexts
- grasp
implies making an effort to understand something difficult
- get
informal; common in everyday speech
- misunderstand
to understand incorrectly
- be confused by
to not understand at all
文法句型
understand + noun phrase (a word, a sentence, a language)
understand + what/why/how/when/who-clause
understand (without object)
用法筆記
Often used with wh-clauses (what, why, how) to specify what is being understood. This is the core sense and the easiest for beginners.
常見錯誤
2. to grasp the causes of an event, the operation of a device, or the reason behind
明白
知道事情發生的原因或運作方式
to grasp the causes of an event, the operation of a device, or the reason behind a situation
Takeshi finally understood how the motor converts electricity into motion.
Takeshi 終於明白馬達如何將電轉換為動能。
understand + how-clause (mechanism)
Isabela understood why the plants had died after the long drought.
Isabela 明白了為什麼那些植物在長期乾旱後死了。
understand + why-clause (cause)
Femi could not understand why the bus always arrived twenty minutes late.
Femi 搞不懂為什麼公車總是遲到二十分鐘。
The students understood the experiment after the teacher explained each step.
老師一步一步解釋後，學生們總算弄懂了這個實驗。
Christopher understood the rules of chess after playing one game.
Christopher 下了一盤棋之後就明白了西洋棋的規則。
- comprehend
more formal; common in academic writing
- figure out
informal; implies working through a problem step by step
文法句型
understand + why/how + clause
understand + noun phrase (the reason, the process, the system)
用法筆記
Frequently used with how and why to explain causes or processes. The object is typically a system, event, situation, or explanation — not a person.
常見錯誤
3. to notice and appreciate what other people feel, experience, or need, often with
體諒
體會他人的感受或處境
to notice and appreciate what other people feel, experience, or need, often with sympathy
Nellie understood why Eli was upset about missing the family reunion.
Nellie 明白 Eli 為什麼因為錯過家庭聚會而難過。
understand + why-clause (emotional reason)
Élise understood that her brother needed time alone after the argument.
Élise 明白哥哥爭吵後需要獨處一段時間。
understand + that-clause (someone's emotional need)
William understood his grandmother's wish to stay in her own home.
William 體諒祖母想要留在家裡的心願。
The manager understood that the staff wanted more flexible working hours.
經理明白員工希望有更彈性的工作時間。
Aylin understood how Faisal felt about losing the competition.
Aylin 理解 Faisal 輸掉比賽後的感受。
- empathize with
stronger emotional connection; implies sharing the feeling
- sympathize with
implies feeling pity or sorrow for someone's situation
- relate to
informal; implies a personal connection through similar experience
文法句型
understand + that-clause
understand + noun phrase (someone's feelings, someone's decision)
understand why + clause (someone behaves a certain way)
用法筆記
When used of people's feelings, this sense carries a tone of sympathy or patience. Distinguish from sense 2 (GRASP MECHANISM): sense 3 is about emotions and human behaviour, not technical causes.
常見錯誤
4. to interpret what someone says or what a situation signals, especially when that
誤會
（常是錯誤地）以為某人有某種意思
to interpret what someone says or what a situation signals, especially when that interpretation later proves incorrect
Eric understood that the meeting started at two, but it was actually at three.
Eric 以為會議兩點開始，但實際上三點才開始。
understand + that-clause (mistaken belief, corrected)
Faisal understood from her tone that she was angry, but she was simply tired.
Faisal 從她的語氣以為她在生氣，但她只是累了。
Nadia understood the notice to mean the library would be closed for a week.
Nadia 把那張公告解讀成圖書館要關閉一週。
Christopher understood that the price included delivery, but it did not.
Christopher 以為價錢包含運費，但其實沒有。
When Takeshi said the project was fine, Isabela understood him to mean it was finished.
Takeshi 說專案沒問題時，Isabela 以為他指的是已經完成了。
文法句型
understand + that-clause (where the clause is later revealed to be wrong)
I understood (that)… — often corrected by context or later information
用法筆記
In this sense, the speaker often follows up with information that corrects the mistaken belief. Frequently followed by a that-clause or an object + to-infinitive structure.
常見錯誤
5. of two or more people: to share an agreement or awareness without needing to sta
達成共識
雙方不須明說即有共識
of two or more people: to share an agreement or awareness without needing to state everything openly
Faisal and Nadia understood each other without needing to exchange a single word.
Faisal 和 Nadia 不用說一句話就能彼此理解。
reciprocal: understand each other
The two companies understood that the partnership would take at least a year to develop.
兩家公司達成共識，知道這項合作至少需要一年才能發展。
understand + that-clause (shared understanding)
Eli and his roommate understood one another perfectly on sharing household chores.
Eli 和他的室友對於分擔家事有很好的默契。
The neighbours understood that nobody would park in front of the garage.
鄰居之間有共識，不會把車停在車庫前面。
After years of working together, the team understood each other's working style.
共事多年後，整個團隊對彼此的工作風格都很了解。
- agree
more explicit; implies stating the agreement openly
- see eye to eye
idiomatic; implies full agreement on a particular matter
- disagree
to have a different opinion or view
文法句型
understand each other / understand one another
understand + that-clause (shared understanding)
it is understood that... (mutual)
用法筆記
Often uses the reciprocal forms 'understand each other' or 'understand one another'. The understanding may be unspoken — an implicit agreement rather than a formal arrangement.
6. to have learned or inferred from written or spoken information that something is
得知
因被告知或看到而知道某事
to have learned or inferred from written or spoken information that something is the case
Eli understood from the email that the office would be closed on Friday.
Eli 從電子郵件中得知辦公室週五休息。
understand from [source] + that-clause
Christopher understood that the flight would be delayed by two hours.
Christopher 得知航班將延誤兩小時。
William understood from the doctor that the test results were all normal.
William 從醫生那裡得知檢查結果一切正常。
I understand that you have applied for the position of head librarian.
我得知你已申請了圖書館館長的職位。
Aylin understood from the notice that the building would close for repairs.
Aylin 從公告上得知這棟大樓要關閉進行維修。
文法句型
understand + that-clause (belief based on information received)
understand + from + noun + that-clause
用法筆記
Common in formal correspondence ('I understand that you wish to…'). The information source can be stated explicitly with 'from + noun phrase'. Distinguish from sense 4 (MISTAKEN BELIEF): sense 6 does not carry the implication of error.
常見錯誤
7. used as a question or firm instruction to check that someone has fully grasped w
聽清楚了嗎
確認對方明白指示的語氣
used as a question or firm instruction to check that someone has fully grasped what is being asked and will obey
"You will finish the report by Friday, understand?" the supervisor said firmly.
「你週五前要把報告寫完，聽清楚了嗎？」主管嚴厲地說。
imperative: 'understand?' as a tag question
"Don't open the door for strangers, understand?" the mother told her child.
「不要給陌生人開門，聽懂了嗎？」媽媽對孩子說。
The security guard said, "You are not to enter this area, understand?"
警衛說：「你不准進入這個區域，聽清楚了嗎？」
"I want the kitchen spotless when I return, understand?" the chef ordered.
「我回來的時候廚房要一塵不染，聽懂了嗎？」主廚命令道。
"Stay with the group at all times, understand?" the tour guide warned everyone.
「隨時跟緊團體，聽見了沒有？」導遊警告大家。
文法句型
Understand? (as a question or command at the end of an instruction)
Do I make myself understood?
用法筆記
Used mainly in spoken, directive contexts. The speaker sets a firm expectation. A response of 'I understand' confirms compliance. This sense is strongly associated with authority (bosses, parents, officials).
常見錯誤
❌ 'You clean your room, understand?' said with a soft, questioning tone. — In this sense, 'understand?' is a firm directive, not a polite question. The tone should be authoritative.
8. referring to a social rule or shared expectation that people follow without need
不言而喻
眾所周知且不需明說的規則
referring to a social rule or shared expectation that people follow without needing an explicit statement
It is understood that students must not use mobile phones during examinations.
學生在考試期間不得使用手機，這是不用說的規定。
passive: 'it is understood that...' (unspoken rule)
In the Wong household, it was understood that everyone helped with the evening meal.
在王家，晚飯時間大家一起幫忙是理所當然的事。
It is generally understood that the rules apply equally to all employees.
一般人都理解，這些規定對所有員工一視同仁。
In our office, it is understood that meetings begin exactly on the hour.
在我們辦公室，大家都知道會議準時開始。
It was understood that the land belonged to the community, not to any individual.
那塊土地屬於社區，不屬於任何個人，這是眾所週知的事。
- implied
focuses on the fact that something is suggested without being said outright
- taken for granted
emphasises that nobody questions the assumption
- presumed
slightly more formal; suggests an assumption based on convention
文法句型
it is understood that... (passive, formal)
it is generally understood that...
it is understood to be...
用法筆記
Almost always in the passive form 'it is understood that…'. The subject is impersonal. This sense appears in formal, legal, and social-rule contexts. Distinguish from sense 5 (MUTUAL AGREEMENT): sense 8 is about general social norms, not a specific arrangement between two people.