(míng bái) - to understand, clear, obvious in Mandarin
míngbáiTraditional: 明白
Translation
to understand, clear, obvious
Word origin
明白 (míngbai) 'to understand, clear' joins 明 'bright' with 白 'white, plain'. 明 is an ideograph combining 日 'sun' and 月 'moon', the two great lights; 白 is a pictograph of a thumbnail or a flame, hence 'bright, plain'. Something fully lit is something understood.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 明 (bright: 日 sun + 月 moon) + 白 (plain, clear)
Stroke order
明
白
Examples
。
I understand now.
?
Do you understand?
。
Explained very clearly.
。
I understand your meaning now.
。
The child doesn't yet understand this reasoning.
明白 (míng bái) means to understand, clear, obvious. It is used as a verb in everyday Mandarin speech.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(15)点错了
2 min read · Core 1000
最后的车
3 min read · Core 1000
都变了
5 min read · Core 5000
河不见了
5 min read · Core 5000
今天不开门
5 min read · Core 5000
旧手机
5 min read · Core 5000
看场合
5 min read · Core 1000
李明的旅行
5 min read · Core 5000
楼上的声音
5 min read · Core 5000
那件事
5 min read · Core 5000
三天
5 min read · Core 5000
汤姆找路
5 min read · Core 5000
想起那个约定
5 min read · Core 5000
小华的比赛
5 min read · Core 5000
有钱没时间
5 min read · Core 5000
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明白: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "明白" (to understand, clear, obvious): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 4.