Result Complement 懂 (dǒng) – Comprehending

Pattern

• Verb + 懂 + Object
• 听/看/读 + 懂 + Object

Usage

• The result complement 懂 (dǒng) conveys “to understand” or “to comprehend”.
• Placed directly after verbs of receiving communication or information—such as 听 (listen), 看 (read/look), or 读 (read)—it specifies that the agent not only received the signal but successfully understood its meaning.
• Common collocations include 听懂 (understand through hearing), 看懂 (understand through reading), and 读懂 (comprehend text).
• Unlike 见, which merely marks sensory perception of existence, 懂

Examples

1. 1

   老师的话我都听懂了。

   Lǎoshī de huà wǒ dōu tīng dǒng le.

   I understood all of the teacher's words.

2. 2

   这篇文章太难,我没看懂。

   Zhè piān wénzhāng tài nán, wǒ méi kàn dǒng.

   This article is too difficult; I did not understand it.

3. 3

   你能看懂中文报纸吗?

   Nǐ néng kàn dǒng Zhōngwén bàozhǐ ma?

   Can you understand Chinese newspapers?