Difference between revisions of "Potential complement "-bu dong" for not understanding"
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Chinese learners often have to express that they don't understand something, especially in the beginning when they start learning. One of the ways to express that is to use the 不懂 (bù dǒng) verb complement.
 
Chinese learners often have to express that they don't understand something, especially in the beginning when they start learning. One of the ways to express that is to use the 不懂 (bù dǒng) verb complement.
  
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=== Structure ===
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== Structure ==
  
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The [[potential complement]] 不懂 (bù dǒng) is used to talk about things that can't be understood. Note that this is about ''potential'' - the subject doesn't have the ability to understand.
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Yes, 不懂 (bù dǒng) by itself simply means "not understand," and you can use it this way. But you'll find that more often, it follows a verb. When used this way, it is a [[complement]].
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The [[potential complement]] 不懂 (bù dǒng) is used to talk about things that can't be understood. Note that this is about ''potential'': the subject doesn't have the ''ability'' to understand.
  
 
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The 不懂 (bù dǒng) may be swapped out with 不明白 (bù míngbai).
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The 不懂 (bù dǒng) may also be swapped out with 不明白 (bù míngbai).
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=== Examples ===
 
  
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In the examples below, 搞不懂 (gǎo bùdǒng) is a colloquial expression meaning "cannot figure out."
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== Examples ==
  
 
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* 你 <strong>看</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 这 些 汉字 吗？<span class="expl">Literally: read-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>kàn</strong> <em>bùdǒng</em> zhè xiē hànzì ma?</span> <span class="trans">Do you not understand these characters?</span>
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* 我 <strong>看</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 这 本 书。<span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "read-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>kàn</strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> zhè běn shū.</span><span class="trans">I don't understand the book.</span>
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* 老板 的 中文 说 得 很好，可是 他 <strong>看</strong> <em>不懂</em> 中文 报纸 。 <span class="expl">Literally: read-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn de Zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo, kěshì tā <strong>kàn</strong> <em>bùdǒng</em> Zhōngwén bàozhǐ.</span> <span class="trans">The boss speaks very good Chinese, but he doesn't understand Chinese newspapers.</span>
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* 孩子们 <strong>看</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 你 写 的 汉字。<span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "read-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Háizi men <strong>kàn</strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> nǐ xiě de Hànzì.</span><span class="trans">Kids don't understand the characters that you wrote.</span>
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* 你 怎么 总是 <strong>听</strong> <em>不懂</em> 我 的 话？<span class="expl">Literally: hear-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme zǒngshì <strong>tīng</strong> <em>bùdǒng</em> wǒ de huà?</span> <span class="trans">How could you always not understand what I say?</span>
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* 你 <strong>看</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 我 的 邮件 吗？<span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "read-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>kàn</strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> wǒ de yóujiàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not understand my emails?</span>
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* 我  <strong>听</strong> <em>不懂</em> 上海话 。 <span class="expl">Literally: hear-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>tīng</strong> <em>bùdǒng</em> Shànghǎi-huà.</span> <span class="trans">I don't understand Shanghai dialect.</span>
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* 老板 的 中文 说 得 很好，可是 他 <strong>看</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 中文 报纸。 <span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "read-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn de Zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo, kěshì tā <strong>kàn</strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> Zhōngwén bàozhǐ.</span><span class="trans">The boss speaks very good Chinese, but he doesn't understand Chinese newspapers.</span>
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* 我 小 时候，常常 <strong>听</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 大人 在 说 什么。 <span class="expl">Literally: hear-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎo shíhou, chángcháng <strong>tīng</strong> <em>bùdǒng</em> dàrén zài shuō shénme.</span> <span class="trans">When I was young, I often didn't understand what adults talked about.</span>
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* 我 <strong>听</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 上海话 。 <span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "hear-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>tīng</strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> Shànghǎi-huà.</span><span class="trans">I don't understand Shanghai dialect.</span>
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* 很 多 人 <strong>读</strong> <em>不懂</em> 这 本 书 。 <span class="expl">Literally: read-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Hěn duō rén <strong> dú </strong> <em>bùdǒng</em> zhè běn shū.</span> <span class="trans">Many people don't understand this book.</span>
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* 你们 <strong>听</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 我 的 话 吗？<span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "hear-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <strong>tīng</strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> wǒ de huà ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not understand what I say?</span>
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* 这 个 句子 很 难， 学生们 都 <strong>读</strong> <em>不 懂</em>。 <span class="expl">Literally: read-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Zhè ge jùzi hěn nán, xuéshengmen dōu <strong> dú </strong> <em>bùdǒng</em>.</span> <span class="trans">This sentence is very difficult. None of the students understand.</span>
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* 我 <strong>听</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 你 说 的 英语。 <span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "hear-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>tīng</strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> nǐ shuō de Yīngyǔ.</span><span class="trans">I don't understand your English.</span>
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* 我们 都 <strong>搞</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 她 为什么 这样 做。<span class="expl">Literally: make-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <strong>gǎo</strong> <em>bù dǒng</em> tā wèishénme zhèyàng zuò.</span> <span class="trans">None of us can figure out why she did this.</span>
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* 我们 都 <strong>听</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 你 的 意思。 <span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "hear-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <strong>tīng</strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> nǐ de yìsi.</span><span class="trans">None of us understand what you mean.</span>
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* 父母 常常 <strong>搞</strong> <em>不 懂</em> 孩子 在 想 什么。 <span class="expl">Literally: make-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Fùmǔ  chángcháng <strong>gǎo</strong> <em>bùdǒng</em> háizi zài xiǎng shénme.</span> <span class="trans">Parents often can't figure out what their kids are thinking.</span>
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* 很 多 人 <strong>读</strong> <em>不懂</em> 这 本 书 。 <span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "read-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Hěn duō rén <strong> dú </strong> <em>bu dǒng</em> zhè běn shū.</span><span class="trans">Many people don't understand this book.</span>
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* 我 真 <strong>搞</strong> <em>不懂</em> 你 怎么 会 跟 那 种 人 在 一起？ <span class="expl">Literally: make-not-understand</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhēn <strong>gǎo</strong> <em>bùdǒng</em> nǐ zěnme huì gēn nà zhǒng rén zài yīqǐ?</span><span class="trans">I really can't figure out why you would be with that kind of person.</span>
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* 这 个 句子 很 难， 学生们 都 <strong>读</strong> <em>不 懂</em>。 <span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Literally, "read-not-understand"</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège jùzi hěn nán, xuéshengmen dōu <strong> dú </strong> <em>bu dǒng</em>.</span><span class="trans">This sentence is very difficult. None of the students understand.</span>
  
 
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) ]] (pp. 242-3, pp. 271 - 329) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
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{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) |242-3, 271 - 329}}
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* [[Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册) ]] (Chapter 6: Complements) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B0041UGAJU&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B0041UGAJU →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册) |Chapter 6: Complements}}
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 200 - 201) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|200 - 201}}
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 87-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|87-8}}
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* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 97-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|97-9}}
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* [[Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)]] (pp, 186-7) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI →buy]
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{{Source|Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) |186-7}}
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
[[Category:Potential complement]]
 
[[Category:Potential complement]]
 
{{Used for|Expressing result}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing result}}
 
{{Used for|Comprehending}}
 
{{Used for|Comprehending}}
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{{Basic Grammar|懂|A2|Verb + 不懂|我 听不<em>懂</em>|grammar point|ASG8R2V8}}
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{{Basic Grammar|懂|A2|Verb + 不懂|我 听不<em>懂</em> 。|grammar point|ASG8R2V8}}
 
{{Rel char|不懂}}
 
{{Rel char|不懂}}
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{{Similar|Potential complement "bu xia"}}
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{{Similar|Result complement}}
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{{Similar|Positive and negative potential complements}}
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{{Similar|Potential complement}}
 
{{Structure|Complements}}
 
{{Structure|Complements}}

Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021

Chinese learners often have to express that they don't understand something, especially in the beginning when they start learning. One of the ways to express that is to use the 不懂 (bù dǒng) verb complement.

Structure

Yes, 不懂 (bù dǒng) by itself simply means "not understand," and you can use it this way. But you'll find that more often, it follows a verb. When used this way, it is a complement.

The potential complement 不懂 (bù dǒng) is used to talk about things that can't be understood. Note that this is about potential: the subject doesn't have the ability to understand.

Subj. + Verb + 不懂

The 不懂 (bù dǒng) may also be swapped out with 不明白 (bù míngbai).

Examples

  • 我 看 不 懂 这 本 书。Literally, "read-not-understand"Wǒ kàn bu dǒng zhè běn shū.I don't understand the book.
  • 孩子们 看 不 懂 你 写 的 汉字。Literally, "read-not-understand"Háizi men kàn bu dǒng nǐ xiě de Hànzì.Kids don't understand the characters that you wrote.
  • 你 看 不 懂 我 的 邮件 吗？Literally, "read-not-understand"Nǐ kàn bu dǒng wǒ de yóujiàn ma?Do you not understand my emails?
  • 老板 的 中文 说 得 很好，可是 他 看 不 懂 中文 报纸。 Literally, "read-not-understand"Lǎobǎn de Zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo, kěshì tā kàn bu dǒng Zhōngwén bàozhǐ.The boss speaks very good Chinese, but he doesn't understand Chinese newspapers.
  • 我 听 不 懂 上海话 。 Literally, "hear-not-understand"Wǒ tīng bu dǒng Shànghǎi-huà.I don't understand Shanghai dialect.
  • 你们 听 不 懂 我 的 话 吗？Literally, "hear-not-understand"Nǐmen tīng bu dǒng wǒ de huà ma?Do you not understand what I say?
  • 我 听 不 懂 你 说 的 英语。 Literally, "hear-not-understand"Wǒ tīng bu dǒng nǐ shuō de Yīngyǔ.I don't understand your English.
  • 我们 都 听 不 懂 你 的 意思。 Literally, "hear-not-understand"Wǒmen dōu tīng bu dǒng nǐ de yìsi.None of us understand what you mean.
  • 很 多 人 读 不懂 这 本 书 。 Literally, "read-not-understand"Hěn duō rén dú bu dǒng zhè běn shū.Many people don't understand this book.
  • 这 个 句子 很 难， 学生们 都 读 不 懂。 Literally, "read-not-understand"Zhège jùzi hěn nán, xuéshengmen dōu dú bu dǒng.This sentence is very difficult. None of the students understand.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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