<p>我一句汉语也没听懂: I may know some Chinese, but I don't understand what's been said.</p>
<p>我一句汉语也听不懂: I know nothing about Chinese, so I can't understand anything that's been said.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T10:41:15.763Z
2020-06-24T13:58:31.240Z
2020-06-24T13:58:31.240Z
michelle2014
<blockquote>
<p>（1）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也没听懂。</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>（2）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也听不懂。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>(2) is idiomatic, meaning <em>when I just came to China, I <strong>don't understand</strong> a single word of Chinese.</em></p>
<p>(1) sounds odd in the context you made because 我一句汉语也没听懂 sounds like there were several languages being spoken and you didn't understand the Chinese language part.</p>
<p>For example, we have a discussion in which people used two languages, sometimes Chinese and sometimes English, and after the meeting you might say: (在会议里)我一句汉语也没听懂.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T09:55:40.977Z
Can I give more examples because I do not really understand what "一...也没..." structure means?
Jenny
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T10:08:53.090Z
@Jenny 也沒 is description used to emphasis not. For example, 蛋糕我一口也沒吃.(I did not even eat small amount of cake.)
000
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T10:13:08.053Z
@Jenny It's not a hard- fast structure. 也 works as 都. 一句也没懂 = 一句都没懂. It's just for emphasis. The use is consistent with English. "I don't (even) understand a single word" -> "我一个字也/都不懂". More examples: 我一句话都没说。我什么事也没做。我一顿饭也没吃。etc
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T10:19:05.223Z
@000 Yeah, 'even' may be the word to interpret 也 in the context.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T09:49:34.170Z
2020-06-24T09:59:51.867Z
2020-06-24T09:59:51.867Z
dan
<blockquote>
<p>(1) 剛來中國時，我一句漢語也沒聽懂</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><em>When I first arrived in China, I wasn't even able to understand a word of Chinese.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This sentence is slightly unidiomatic when used by itself in Chinese, and would more commonly be used in a background context that's already understood. My immediate impression is that it would be the sentence which applies to someone who may have learned Chinese before, but wasn't accustomed to a normal-level of Chinese speaking speed, colloquialisms, accent, etc, and so wasn't able to understand anything upon arrival into China. For example,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>雖然我已經在國外大學讀了三年漢語，但是，當我剛剛來到中國的時候，我一句話也沒有聽懂。</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Even though I've studied Chinese for three years in an overseas university, upon my arrival into China, I wasn't even able to understand a word of Chinese.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<blockquote>
<p>(2) 剛來中國時，我一句漢語也聽不懂</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><em>When I first arrived in China, I didn't even understand a word of Chinese.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This sentence is usable as-is, but my immediate impression is that, without context, it implies that you never had any experience in learning or communicating in Chinese at all. For example,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>當我剛剛來到中國的時候，我一句漢語也聽不懂。現在，在北京大學上完了一年的漢語課程之後，我新聞和連續劇都基本可以看得懂了。</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Upon my arrival into China, I didn't even understand a word of Chinese. Now, after one year of attending Chinese classes at Peking University, I'm able to grasp most of what's being said on the news and TV dramas.</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T11:05:00.133Z
I'd probably say in your first context: "雖然我已經在國外大學讀了三年漢語，但是，當我剛剛來到中國的時候，我还是一句话也听不懂。" That's probably just me.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T11:13:51.643Z
@dan you're right, and if I wasn't using the sentence from the question again, I would say: 我一句話都沒聽懂. With context saying either sentence from the question is OK. Without context, there's a nuanced implication that is minor and everyone who reads it might interpret it slightly differently.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T10:33:14.823Z
2020-06-24T10:39:30.543Z
2020-06-24T10:39:30.543Z
dROOOze
<p>这个在中文里不是一个大问题,我们平时是不在意这个的.</p>
<p>It's not an important problem, it don't count.</p>
<p>But!</p>
<p>举3个例子:</p>
<p>Here are 3 examples:</p>
<ol>
<li>一二三四五</li>
<li>设{Ai, i&gt;=1}为独立同分布的随机变量序列，若Ai的数学期望存在，则服从辛钦大数定律</li>
<li>咄嗟蹀躞耄耋饕餮</li>
</ol>
<p>1=我懂了 I understood</p>
<p>2=没看懂(我每个字都认识,但是没看懂) I can recognize each of the characters, but I couldn't understand this sentence.</p>
<p>3=我不懂 I could not understand.</p>
<p>Despite these differences, we don't distinguish the two phrases strictly in normal life. Thus, there is no need for you to tell them apart.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T15:49:22.590Z
2020-06-24T15:49:22.590Z
ccluv
<blockquote>
<p>我一句汉语也没听懂</p>
</blockquote>
<p>(I don't understand one or more than one of mandarin sentences through hearing.)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我一句汉语也听不懂</p>
</blockquote>
<p>(I cannot understand even one mandarin sentence through hearing.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T09:31:49.717Z
2020-06-24T09:31:49.717Z
000
<ol>
<li>Means you know nothing about it.</li>
<li>Means someone say something to you but you don't understand</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-07T04:13:53.833Z
2020-07-07T04:13:53.833Z
Leon Zhuang
<p>（1）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也没听懂。
（2）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也听不懂。</p>
<ol>
<li>When I first arrived in China, I couldn't hear/recognize a single sentence in Chinese.</li>
<li>When I first arrived in China, I couldn't understand a single sentence in Chinese.</li>
</ol>
<p>It is literally a sentence, not a word.</p>
<p>If it were literally about not understanding a word, you would be seeing 一個字 or 一个字 in the sentence.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T17:46:56.060Z
2020-06-24T17:46:56.060Z
stackoverblown
<p>这两句话在汉语里没有什么区别，并不是像你所说的第一句未指明原因而第二句暗示了是因为不熟悉汉语的原因。事实上，第一句也暗示了说话者其实并不熟悉汉语，因为中国人表达听不懂的时候并不需要刻意强调听不懂汉语。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-08T12:49:54.160Z
Hi SBBST, it's a good practice on this site to answer questions in the language they were asked, as the poster may not be fluent enough to read this content.
blackgreen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-08T12:26:52.193Z
2020-07-08T12:26:52.193Z
SBBST
<pre><code>（1）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也没听懂。
（2）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也听不懂。
</code></pre>
<p>For me:</p>
<p>(1) states the situation that &quot;I cannot understand Chinese sayings&quot; without pointing out any reasons</p>
<p>(2) uses potential complement &quot;听不懂&quot; that means &quot;I cannot understand&quot; because not used to Chinese speaking speed or not know Chinese, etc...</p>
<p><strong>Is what I think correct?</strong> If anything goes wrong, please let me know.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-24T07:30:01.817Z
Yes. 没听懂 = did not understand; 听不懂 = could not understand
Tang Ho
<meaning-in-context><difference><complement>
Difference between 我一句汉语也没听懂 and 我一句汉语也听不懂
# Difference between 我一句汉语也没听懂 and 我一句汉语也听不懂

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-24)

（1）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也没听懂。
（2）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也听不懂。

For me:
(1) states the situation that "I cannot understand Chinese sayings" without pointing out any reasons
(2) uses potential complement "听不懂" that means "I cannot understand" because not used to Chinese speaking speed or not know Chinese, etc...
Is what I think correct? If anything goes wrong, please let me know.

**Tags:** meaning-in-context, difference, complement

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Yes. 没听懂 = did not understand; 听不懂 = could not understand  

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## 8 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-06-24. Score: 3

我一句汉语也没听懂: I may know some Chinese, but I don't understand what's been said.

我一句汉语也听不懂: I know nothing about Chinese, so I can't understand anything that's been said.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-06-24. Score: 2

> （1）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也没听懂。

> （2）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也听不懂。

(2) is idiomatic, meaning *when I just came to China, I **don't understand** a single word of Chinese.*

(1) sounds odd in the context you made because 我一句汉语也没听懂 sounds like there were several languages being spoken and you didn't understand the Chinese language part.

For example, we have a discussion in which people used two languages, sometimes Chinese and sometimes English, and after the meeting you might say: (在会议里)我一句汉语也没听懂.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Can I give more examples because I do not really understand what "一...也没..." structure means?  
> **username_4**: @username_0 也沒 is description used to emphasis not. For example, 蛋糕我一口也沒吃.(I did not even eat small amount of cake.)  
> **username_3**: @username_0 It's not a hard- fast structure. 也 works as 都. 一句也没懂 = 一句都没懂. It's just for emphasis. The use is consistent with English. "I don't (even) understand a single word" -> "我一个字也/都不懂". More examples: 我一句话都没说。我什么事也没做。我一顿饭也没吃。etc  
> **username_3**: @username_4 Yeah, 'even' may be the word to interpret 也 in the context.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2020-06-24. Score: 2

> (1) 剛來中國時，我一句漢語也沒聽懂

> *When I first arrived in China, I wasn't even able to understand a word of Chinese.*

This sentence is slightly unidiomatic when used by itself in Chinese, and would more commonly be used in a background context that's already understood. My immediate impression is that it would be the sentence which applies to someone who may have learned Chinese before, but wasn't accustomed to a normal-level of Chinese speaking speed, colloquialisms, accent, etc, and so wasn't able to understand anything upon arrival into China. For example,

> 雖然我已經在國外大學讀了三年漢語，但是，當我剛剛來到中國的時候，我一句話也沒有聽懂。

> *Even though I've studied Chinese for three years in an overseas university, upon my arrival into China, I wasn't even able to understand a word of Chinese.*

---

> (2) 剛來中國時，我一句漢語也聽不懂

> *When I first arrived in China, I didn't even understand a word of Chinese.*

This sentence is usable as-is, but my immediate impression is that, without context, it implies that you never had any experience in learning or communicating in Chinese at all. For example,

> 當我剛剛來到中國的時候，我一句漢語也聽不懂。現在，在北京大學上完了一年的漢語課程之後，我新聞和連續劇都基本可以看得懂了。

> *Upon my arrival into China, I didn't even understand a word of Chinese. Now, after one year of attending Chinese classes at Peking University, I'm able to grasp most of what's being said on the news and TV dramas.*

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I'd probably say in your first context: "雖然我已經在國外大學讀了三年漢語，但是，當我剛剛來到中國的時候，我还是一句话也听不懂。" That's probably just me.  
> **username_5**: @username_3 you're right, and if I wasn't using the sentence from the question again, I would say: 我一句話都沒聽懂. With context saying either sentence from the question is OK. Without context, there's a nuanced implication that is minor and everyone who reads it might interpret it slightly differently.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2020-06-24. Score: 1

这个在中文里不是一个大问题,我们平时是不在意这个的.

It's not an important problem, it don't count.

But!

举3个例子:

Here are 3 examples:

1. 一二三四五
2. 设{Ai, i>=1}为独立同分布的随机变量序列，若Ai的数学期望存在，则服从辛钦大数定律
3. 咄嗟蹀躞耄耋饕餮

1=我懂了 I understood

2=没看懂(我每个字都认识,但是没看懂) I can recognize each of the characters, but I couldn't understand this sentence.

3=我不懂 I could not understand.

Despite these differences, we don't distinguish the two phrases strictly in normal life. Thus, there is no need for you to tell them apart.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-06-24. Score: 1

> 我一句汉语也没听懂

(I don't understand one or more than one of mandarin sentences through hearing.)

> 我一句汉语也听不懂

(I cannot understand even one mandarin sentence through hearing.)


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### Answer by username_7 on 2020-07-07. Score: 0

1. Means you know nothing about it.
2. Means someone say something to you but you don't understand


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### Answer by username_8 on 2020-06-24. Score: 0

（1）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也没听懂。
（2）刚来中国时，我一句汉语也听不懂。

1. When I first arrived in China, I couldn't hear/recognize a single sentence in Chinese.
2. When I first arrived in China, I couldn't understand a single sentence in Chinese.

It is literally a sentence, not a word.

If it were literally about not understanding a word, you would be seeing 一個字 or 一个字 in the sentence.


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### Answer by username_9 on 2020-07-08. Score: 0

这两句话在汉语里没有什么区别，并不是像你所说的第一句未指明原因而第二句暗示了是因为不熟悉汉语的原因。事实上，第一句也暗示了说话者其实并不熟悉汉语，因为中国人表达听不懂的时候并不需要刻意强调听不懂汉语。

> **Comments:**
> **username_10**: Hi username_9, it's a good practice on this site to answer questions in the language they were asked, as the poster may not be fluent enough to read this content.  

---

