Difference between revisions of "Potential complement "-bu dong" for not understanding"

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The [[potential complement]] 不懂 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. The 不懂 can also be swapped out with 不明白 (bù míngbai).
 
The [[potential complement]] 不懂 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. The 不懂 can also be swapped out with 不明白 (bù míngbai).
  
可以和“不明白”相互替换。
 
  
 
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Revision as of 01:18, 1 February 2013

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 compliment.

Structure

The potential complement 不懂 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. The 不懂 can also be swapped out with 不明白 (bù míngbai).


Subject + Perception verb + 不懂

Examples

  • 我 看 不懂 中文 的 报纸。I don't understand Chinese newspapers. (Literally: I see-not-understand Chinese newspapers.)
  • 我 听 不懂 南方人 说 的 话。I don't understand Southerners' talk. (Literally: I hear-not-understand Southerners' talk.)
  • 很 多 人 看 不懂 古代 汉语。Many people don't understand ancient Chinese. (Literally: Many people see-not-understand ancient Chinese.)
  • 你 听 不 明白 我 的 话 吗?Do you not understand my talk? (Literally: You listen-not-understand my talk?)

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites