<p>明白 VS. 了解</p>
<blockquote>
<p>明白 means 'understand' in general</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><p>大致明白 = roughtly understand</p>
</li>
<li><p>很明白 = quite understand</p>
</li>
<li><p>深深明白 = deeply understand</p>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p>了解 means 'understand' in detail</p>
</blockquote>
<p>了解 something implies you know it in detail</p>
<p>明白航海的程序 (understand sailing procedures) is not enough, you have to 了解航海的程序 (understand sailing procedures in detail)</p>
<p>了解 &lt; 很了解 &lt;  深度了解</p>
<p><strong>Edit:</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Case 2 is best described as 領悟 (profoundly understand)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>領悟出 --&gt; revolutionary understanding</p>
<p>領悟到 --&gt; enlightening understanding</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-17T04:41:29.013Z
So, I guess the case 1 person who understands well enough to tutor or teach might 了解或很了解 but the case 2 person has a 深度了解.  And a person with a casual understanding could be said to 大致明白.(?.)      好多謝!  你真係好人.
YQ002lc2
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-17T08:54:07.153Z
@YQ002lc2 I think 深度了解 is 100% correct but not enough for case 2. For a theorem, there can be many people who deeply understand (深度了解 or similarly, 精通, 通晓, etc.) it, but there’s just one inventor. Calling an inventor directly as 发明者/创造者 is probably the most accurate and straightforward way. 了解 and 大致明白 sound accurate in their cases respectively.
kyc
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-17T09:07:44.303Z
See my edition.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-17T00:57:22.773Z
2024-08-17T09:08:50.103Z
2024-08-17T09:08:50.103Z
Tang Ho
<p>Allow me to introduce two friends of mine :)</p>
<ul>
<li><p>王教授不但<strong>精通</strong>物理, 也很<strong>熟悉</strong>數學, 對應用力學更有着<strong>澈底/透徹/深入的瞭解</strong> - Professor Wong is not only <strong>proficient</strong> in Physics; he also very <strong>familiar</strong> with Mathematics and has a <strong>thorough/complete/deep understanding</strong> of Applied Mechanics.</p>
</li>
<li><p>陳先生是一個<strong>傑出/卓越的</strong>科學家. 他拥有<strong>敏锐的智慧</strong>和対事物的<strong>洞悉力</strong>. - Mr. Chen is an <strong>outstanding</strong> scientist. He has a <strong>keen intelligence</strong> and the <strong>ability to grasp the inner nature</strong> of things.</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-17T18:45:59.967Z
2024-08-17T19:31:07.973Z
2024-08-17T19:31:07.973Z
r13
<p>How can these ideas be expressed in Chinese:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Case 1: Someone who fully understands and can derive certain theorems on their own from their thorough understanding. In English, we would simply say they understand or are well acquainted with some concept. But is there a distinction in Chinese conveying the idea that they understand a concept extremely well or thoroughly -- well enough to teach it and fully explain it?</p>
</li>
<li><p>Case 2: The inventor of the theorem whose piercing intellect has seen what no one else could previously imagine and revolutionized the understanding of a particular subject. How might you describe their understanding and mental capacity for that particular topic?</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>I look forward to any potential responses!</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-17T01:47:35.567Z
我简直是一头雾水，丈二和尚摸不着头脑，擀面杖吹火是一窍不通。
PdotWang
<word-choice>
How to express degrees of understanding in Chinese:
# How to express degrees of understanding in Chinese:

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-08-17)

How can these ideas be expressed in Chinese:

1. Case 1: Someone who fully understands and can derive certain theorems on their own from their thorough understanding. In English, we would simply say they understand or are well acquainted with some concept. But is there a distinction in Chinese conveying the idea that they understand a concept extremely well or thoroughly -- well enough to teach it and fully explain it?
2. Case 2: The inventor of the theorem whose piercing intellect has seen what no one else could previously imagine and revolutionized the understanding of a particular subject. How might you describe their understanding and mental capacity for that particular topic?

I look forward to any potential responses!

Thank you!

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 我简直是一头雾水，丈二和尚摸不着头脑，擀面杖吹火是一窍不通。  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2024-08-17. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

明白 VS. 了解

> 明白 means 'understand' in general

* 大致明白 = roughtly understand
* 很明白 = quite understand
* 深深明白 = deeply understand

> 了解 means 'understand' in detail

了解 something implies you know it in detail

明白航海的程序 (understand sailing procedures) is not enough, you have to 了解航海的程序 (understand sailing procedures in detail)

了解 < 很了解 < 深度了解

**Edit:**

> Case 2 is best described as 領悟 (profoundly understand)

領悟出 --> revolutionary understanding

領悟到 --> enlightening understanding

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So, I guess the case 1 person who understands well enough to tutor or teach might 了解或很了解 but the case 2 person has a 深度了解.  And a person with a casual understanding could be said to 大致明白.(?.)      好多謝!  你真係好人.  
> **username_3**: @username_0 I think 深度了解 is 100% correct but not enough for case 2. For a theorem, there can be many people who deeply understand (深度了解 or similarly, 精通, 通晓, etc.) it, but there’s just one inventor. Calling an inventor directly as 发明者/创造者 is probably the most accurate and straightforward way. 了解 and 大致明白 sound accurate in their cases respectively.  
> **username_2**: See my edition.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2024-08-17. Score: 1

Allow me to introduce two friends of mine :)

* 王教授不但**精通**物理, 也很**熟悉**數學, 對應用力學更有着**澈底/透徹/深入的瞭解** - Professor Wong is not only **proficient** in Physics; he also very **familiar** with Mathematics and has a **thorough/complete/deep understanding** of Applied Mechanics.
* 陳先生是一個**傑出/卓越的**科學家. 他拥有**敏锐的智慧**和対事物的**洞悉力**. - Mr. Chen is an **outstanding** scientist. He has a **keen intelligence** and the **ability to grasp the inner nature** of things.


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