<blockquote>
<p>理解: (v) to understand; to comprehend</p>
<p>了解/瞭解: (v)to understand</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>理解 is mostly referred to &quot;understand/comprehend a concept on its foundations level&quot;</li>
</ul>
<p>For example: <strong>理解到</strong>人際關係是基於互相利用的原則 &quot;<strong>comprehend</strong> (<strong>the concept of</strong>) interpersonal relationship is based upon mutual benefit of self-interest.&quot;</p>
<ul>
<li>了解/瞭解 means &quot;clearly understand&quot;.</li>
</ul>
<p>For example: <strong>了解</strong>他的心情 <strong>(clearly)understand</strong> his feeling.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-23T04:46:17.217Z
2016-11-23T04:46:17.217Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>Chinese verbs are usually made up according to this formula:
<strong>modificator + modificated</strong> or <strong>modificator + a verb to modify</strong>. 
So when I seen that 理解 and 了解 ending with the same charecter (解), this usually means that there is a slight modification of a verb 解(to divide) is in play. </p>

<p>So let's find the roots of the word:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>理　(11)　リ　 As per 里# (long strip) + 玉 jewel → veins or streaks in a
  piece of jade → <em>logic</em>; <em>reason</em> (← lines/threads of a reasoning
  process ← vein; streak) → <em>principle</em>; <em>natural science</em>.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So here we already see the connotation which 理 brings: lines/patterns of reasoning. Now add this to 解 and you have "to understand解(split/crack) by reasoning理".</p>

<p>Now about 了 which is 瞭 simplified:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>瞭　(17)　リョウ　 As per 尞# as described in 僚 (circular continuum) + 目 eye →
  <em>observe from a high place,</em> enjoying a <em>clear</em> panoramic view → *clear-sighted; <em>clarity</em>.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Now you add everything up and you have: "to understand 解 clearly or by observation (not by reasoning理)"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-25T22:30:30.497Z
This is super super super informative!! Thank you so much coobit!!
milk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-25T09:04:57.380Z
2016-12-01T14:30:57.707Z
2016-12-01T14:30:57.707Z
coobit
<p>理解 seems to imply empathy. Examples:
希望你能理解。I hope you would understand.
我可以理解的。I can understand why.
令人难于理解。It is hard to understand why.</p>

<p>了解 seems to mean "To find out or To have realized the situation". Examples:</p>

<p>我想了解具体情况。I would like to know the specifics of the situation.
我了解你的意思。I know what you mean.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T23:38:20.383Z
2016-11-22T23:38:20.383Z
johnseah
<p>理解 is more of a process while 了解 is more of a state.
For example, 你能理解吗/难以理解/你能理解我的意思吗，all of them imply the process to complete something;我想了解一下情况/我对中国不是很了解，all these instances imply the extent of understanding or konwing.
However when used as noun, the difference is more obvious, 理解 denotes inner thought of your mind, and 了解 means you know some facts of outer world.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-24T11:13:38.623Z
2016-11-24T11:13:38.623Z
kuixiong
<p>In my opinion, 理解=understand，了解=know</p>

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2016-11-24T21:05:25.650Z
This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient [reputation](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you will be able to [comment on any post](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment); instead, [provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker](http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/214173/why-do-i-need-50-reputation-to-comment-what-can-i-do-instead). - [From Review](/review/low-quality-posts/12578)
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-06T04:52:52.637Z
I provided an answer, just my opinion. And I tried to make it easier to understand. By the way, if you are Chinese,你行你上~
Ting张
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-24T17:31:08.203Z
2016-11-24T17:31:08.203Z
Ting张
<p>I know the question regarding the difference has been asked but the answers didn't really help me in the other post. I'm trying to recall what my Chinese teacher once taught me.</p>

<p>理解 is when you can understand why something/someone is how it is, but 了解 is more of a deeper connection or understanding of someone. </p>

<p>For example: If you went to an area with a lot of poverty and lived there for a bit, could you say that you finally 了解 them? Sorry for the mix of Chinese and English haha.</p>

<p>Is this correct?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T20:24:31.227Z
web search using e.g.＂理解，了解＂有什么差别 will yield explanations, e.g. https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/74702475.html
user6065
<vocabulary><difference>
A 理解 and 了解 comparison
# A 理解 and 了解 comparison

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-11-22)

I know the question regarding the difference has been asked but the answers didn't really help me in the other post. I'm trying to recall what my Chinese teacher once taught me.

理解 is when you can understand why something/someone is how it is, but 了解 is more of a deeper connection or understanding of someone.

For example: If you went to an area with a lot of poverty and lived there for a bit, could you say that you finally 了解 them? Sorry for the mix of Chinese and English haha.

Is this correct?

**Tags:** vocabulary, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: web search using e.g.＂理解，了解＂有什么差别 will yield explanations, e.g. https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/74702475.html  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-11-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

> 理解: (v) to understand; to comprehend
>
> 了解/瞭解: (v)to understand

* 理解 is mostly referred to "understand/comprehend a concept on its foundations level"

For example: **理解到**人際關係是基於互相利用的原則 "**comprehend** (**the concept of**) interpersonal relationship is based upon mutual benefit of self-interest."

* 了解/瞭解 means "clearly understand".

For example: **了解**他的心情 **(clearly)understand** his feeling.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-11-25. Score: 5

Chinese verbs are usually made up according to this formula:
**modificator + modificated** or **modificator + a verb to modify**.
So when I seen that 理解 and 了解 ending with the same charecter (解), this usually means that there is a slight modification of a verb 解(to divide) is in play.

So let's find the roots of the word:

> 理　(11)　リ　 As per 里# (long strip) + 玉 jewel → veins or streaks in a
> piece of jade → *logic*; *reason* (← lines/threads of a reasoning
> process ← vein; streak) → *principle*; *natural science*.

So here we already see the connotation which 理 brings: lines/patterns of reasoning. Now add this to 解 and you have "to understand解(split/crack) by reasoning理".

Now about 了 which is 瞭 simplified:

> 瞭　(17)　リョウ　 As per 尞# as described in 僚 (circular continuum) + 目 eye →
> *observe from a high place,* enjoying a *clear* panoramic view → \*clear-sighted; *clarity*.

Now you add everything up and you have: "to understand 解 clearly or by observation (not by reasoning理)"

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This is super super super informative!! Thank you so much username_3!!  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-11-22. Score: 1

理解 seems to imply empathy. Examples:
希望你能理解。I hope you would understand.
我可以理解的。I can understand why.
令人难于理解。It is hard to understand why.

了解 seems to mean "To find out or To have realized the situation". Examples:

我想了解具体情况。I would like to know the specifics of the situation.
我了解你的意思。I know what you mean.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-11-24. Score: 1

理解 is more of a process while 了解 is more of a state.
For example, 你能理解吗/难以理解/你能理解我的意思吗，all of them imply the process to complete something;我想了解一下情况/我对中国不是很了解，all these instances imply the extent of understanding or konwing.
However when used as noun, the difference is more obvious, 理解 denotes inner thought of your mind, and 了解 means you know some facts of outer world.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-11-24. Score: -1

In my opinion, 理解=understand，了解=know

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient [reputation](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you will be able to [comment on any post](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment); instead, [provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker](http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/214173/why-do-i-need-50-reputation-to-comment-what-can-i-do-instead). - [From Review](/review/low-quality-posts/12578)  
> **username_6**: I provided an answer, just my opinion. And I tried to make it easier to understand. By the way, if you are Chinese,你行你上~  

---

