understand
verb uk/ˌʌn.dəˈstænd/ us/ˌʌn.dɚˈstænd/ understood | understood
(KNOW)
A1 [ I or T ]理解;明白;懂得
to know the meaning of something that someone says
She explained the whole idea again, but I still didn't understand. 她把整个想法又解释了一遍，但我还是不明白。
Is there anyone here who understands Arabic? 这儿有人懂阿拉伯语吗？
I think he was calling from a club - it was so noisy, I couldn't understand a word he said. 我想他是在一个夜总会里打的电话——那头太吵了，他说的话我一个字也没听清。
A2 [ I or T ]弄懂，搞明白
to know why or how something happens or works
[ + question word ] We still don't fully understand how the brain works. 我们还未完全弄懂大脑是如何工作的。
B1 [ I or T ]理解;体谅
to know how someone feels or why someone behaves in a particular way
My wife doesn't understand me. 我太太不理解我。
Sometimes I don't understand James. 有时候我搞不懂詹姆斯。
[ + question word ] You don't understand what it's like/how it feels to have to beg on the streets. 你不了解出于无奈才上街乞讨是什么样子／是什么样的感觉。
understand someone to mean something （尤指错误地）把（某人）的意思理解为…
to think, especially wrongly, that someone means a particular thing
When he said three o'clock, I understood him to mean in the afternoon. 他说3点钟时，我误解为是下午。
understand each other/one another 彼此理解
When two people understand one another, they both know what the other means and wants and they have an agreement.
I wanted to make sure that we want the same things, that we really understand each other. 我想确保我们的目标一致并相互理解对方。
- More examples
- He explained it as simply as he could, but the class still didn't understand.
- The plot of the film was too involved - I couldn't understand it.
- She started gabbling away at me in Spanish and I didn't understand a word.
- If there's anything you don't understand, I'll be happy to explain.
- You should make certain that everyone understands the instructions.
(REALIZE)
C1 [ T ] formal得知，获悉，听说
to know or realize something because you have been told it
[ + (that) ] I understand (that) you are interested in borrowing some money from us. 我听说你想从我们这里借些钱。
[ + that ] The Director had given her to understand (= told her) that she would be promoted. 主任跟她说她将会得到提拔。
[ + obj + to infinitive ] A secret buyer is understood to have paid $1 million for the three pictures (= there is unofficial news that this has happened). 据说，有一位不愿透露姓名的买家花了100万美元买走了那3幅画。
[ I or T ] formal（用于询问他人是否明白自己所表达的意思并按要求去做）明白
used when making certain that someone knows what you mean and will do as you want
I don't want you to see that boy again. Understand?/Do you understand?/Is that understood? 我不想让你再和那个男孩见面，明白吗？
it is understoodformal 众所周知
used to refer to something such as a rule that everyone knows and accepts
In the library it is understood that people should talk quietly. 众所周知，图书馆里禁止大声喧哗。
- More examples
- I don't think you quite understand the severity of our financial problems.
- I understand the rent is fixed at £750 a month.
- I understand how you feel, but you really must keep trying.
- It can help to talk to someone who is suffering the same problems and who understands what it's like.
- It is hard for the able-bodied to understand the difficulties that disabled people encounter in their daily lives.
Idiom
make yourself understoodidiom C2 把自己的意思表达清楚
to communicate effectively
Since they spoke only Swahili, we used signs and gestures to make ourselves understood. 因为他们只会说斯瓦希里语，因此我们就借助动作和手势让对方明白我们的意思。