听不懂

聽不懂

tīngbudǒng

verb

Meanings

1 to be unable to understand (what one hears)
2 can't catch (what is said)

Characters

not (potential)

Examples

对不起，我听不懂你说的话。

Duìbuqǐ, wǒ tīngbudǒng nǐ shuō de huà.

Sorry, I can't understand what you're saying.

他说方言我完全听不懂。

Tā shuō fāngyán wǒ wánquán tīngbudǒng.

When he speaks dialect I can't understand a word.

Tips

grammar

Potential complement negative: 听 + 不 + 懂 = 'listening cannot reach understanding'. Contrast with 没听懂 ('didn't catch it this time') — 听不懂 implies general inability, 没听懂 is about a single instance. Positive counterpart: 听得懂.

Stroke Order

听 tīng

不 bù

懂 dǒng