<p>了解 also means to learn about, for example, 他去那个地方是想了解当地的风俗习惯。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-02T20:56:55.460Z
2024-03-02T20:56:55.460Z
Bill
<p>知道 = to Know, verb</p>

<p>了解 = to understand, verb</p>

<p>明白 = to be clear, adjective</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-25T20:01:35.797Z
That doesn't seem exactly accurate, given things like the well-known song lyrics, "明明白白我的心“ and sentences like "他对这个题目的了解..." in which 了解 does not behave like a noun.
Terry Waltz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-25T20:28:57.470Z
I read "明明白白我的心“ as 我的心 is 明明白白, but you are right, 了解 can be used as a noun. good call.
Laguna
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-25T20:30:11.337Z
Actually now I'm contemplating over this, I think 明白 can be used as verb too, as in 明白事理。
Laguna
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-27T03:46:35.100Z
I've heard people asking, "你明白嗎？" to mean "do you understand?" in Taiwan.
Terry Waltz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-29T19:51:42.570Z
lol and +1 at 明明白白我的心 in this context, @Terry Waltz =)
magnetar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-25T18:18:29.600Z
2012-01-25T18:18:29.600Z
Laguna
<p>知道 = Know</p>

<p>了解 = Know clearly</p>

<p>明白 = Know completely</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-25T15:50:13.487Z
2012-01-25T15:50:13.487Z
KoKo
<p>知道 means you just know something, you don't need to understand it.
了解, you understand it.
明白, you understand something, and have a clear idea of what it is about. </p>

<p>I think the order of them is: 知道&lt;了解&lt;=明白</p>

<p>for 了解, it can also means 'to investigate'. e.g 小白, 你去了解一下这事情怎么发生的.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-24T10:13:15.700Z
Just an intermediate student, so I may well be wrong. But I have a feeling 明白 is not used so much in modern writing; maybe 了解 or some other alternative is used instead.
goPlayerJuggler
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-03T02:37:33.660Z
Quote:-  " 了解, it can also means 'to investigate'  My personal translation would be "to gain a better understanding"
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-24T23:26:31.470Z
2012-01-24T23:31:33.227Z
2012-01-24T23:31:33.227Z
Fivesheep
<p>了解, 明白, and 知道 seem to be fairly synonymous in Mandarin, but there does seem to be some subtle differences between them.</p>

<p>What exactly is the difference? When should I use each one? Could you give me an example sentence to show when each of these terms would be the most appropriate?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-03T03:37:12.797Z
懂 is another one.
PdotWang
<word-choice><difference>
了解 vs 明白 vs 知道 - what is the difference, and when should I use each one?
# 了解 vs 明白 vs 知道 - what is the difference, and when should I use each one?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-24)

了解, 明白, and 知道 seem to be fairly synonymous in Mandarin, but there does seem to be some subtle differences between them.

What exactly is the difference? When should I use each one? Could you give me an example sentence to show when each of these terms would be the most appropriate?

**Tags:** word-choice, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 懂 is another one.  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2012-01-24. Score: 18 | Accepted answer

知道 means you just know something, you don't need to understand it.
了解, you understand it.
明白, you understand something, and have a clear idea of what it is about.

I think the order of them is: 知道<了解<=明白

for 了解, it can also means 'to investigate'. e.g 小白, 你去了解一下这事情怎么发生的.

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: Just an intermediate student, so I may well be wrong. But I have a feeling 明白 is not used so much in modern writing; maybe 了解 or some other alternative is used instead.  
> **username_9**: Quote:-  " 了解, it can also means 'to investigate'  My personal translation would be "to gain a better understanding"  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2024-03-02. Score: 0

了解 also means to learn about, for example, 他去那个地方是想了解当地的风俗习惯。


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### Answer by username_3 on 2012-01-25. Score: -1

知道 = to Know, verb

了解 = to understand, verb

明白 = to be clear, adjective

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: That doesn't seem exactly accurate, given things like the well-known song lyrics, "明明白白我的心“ and sentences like "他对这个题目的了解..." in which 了解 does not behave like a noun.  
> **username_3**: I read "明明白白我的心“ as 我的心 is 明明白白, but you are right, 了解 can be used as a noun. good call.  
> **username_3**: Actually now I'm contemplating over this, I think 明白 can be used as verb too, as in 明白事理。  
> **username_4**: I've heard people asking, "你明白嗎？" to mean "do you understand?" in Taiwan.  
> **username_5**: lol and +1 at 明明白白我的心 in this context, @username_4 =)  

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### Answer by username_6 on 2012-01-25. Score: -2

知道 = Know

了解 = Know clearly

明白 = Know completely


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