The common expressions
我不懂 (Wǒ bù dǒng)
This is the most straightforward way to say “I don’t understand.”
e.g.
A：我这么讲这个问题，你懂不懂？(Wǒ zhème jiǎng zhège wèntí, nǐ dǒng bù dǒng?) Do you understand this question the way I explain it?
B：我不懂。(Wǒ bù dǒng.) I don’t understand.
A：老板的想法你懂不懂？(Lǎobǎn de xiǎngfǎ nǐ dǒng bù dǒng?) Do you understand the boss’s idea?
B：我不懂。(Wǒ bù dǒng.) I don’t understand.
我不明白 (Wǒ bù míngbái)
This also means “I don’t understand,” with a slight emphasis on not being clear.
e.g.
A：你不可以这么做，明白吗？(Nǐ bù kěyǐ zhème zuò, míngbái ma?) You can’t do it this way, understand?
B：我不明白。(Wǒ bù míngbái.) I don’t understand.
A：他的解释已经很清楚了。(Tā de jiěshì yǐjīng hěn qīngchǔ le.) His explanation is already very clear.
B：但是我还是不明白。(Dànshì wǒ háishì bù míngbái.) But I still don’t understand.
The uses in sentences
我不懂…… (Wǒ bù dǒng ……)
e.g.
我不懂这个问题。 (Wǒ bù dǒng zhège wèntí.) I don’t understand this question.
我不懂你说的意思。 (Wǒ bù dǒng nǐ shuō de yìsi.) I don’t understand what you mean.
我不懂为什么要这样做。 (Wǒ bù dǒng wèishéme yào zhèyàng zuò.) I don’t understand why we need to do it this way.
我不明白…… (Wǒ bù míngbái……)
e.g.
我不明白这句话的意思。 (Wǒ bù míngbái zhè jù huà de yìsi.) I don’t understand the meaning of this sentence.
我不明白他为什么生气。 (Wǒ bù míngbái tā wèishéme shēngqì.) I don’t understand why he is angry.
我不明白这个问题为什么这么难。(Wǒ bù míngbái zhège wèntí wèishéme zhème nán.) I don’t understand why this question is so difficult.
The extended phrases to express “I don’t understand” in Chinese
我听不懂 (Wǒ tīng bù dǒng)
This specifically means “I don’t understand” when referring to listening.
e.g.
他说得太快了，我听不懂。 (Tā shuō de tài kuài le, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.) He speaks too fast, I don’t understand.
这个方言我听不懂。 (Zhège fāngyán wǒ tīng bù dǒng.) I don’t understand this dialect.
你在说什么，我听不懂。 (Nǐ zài shuō shénme, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.) What are you saying? I don’t understand.
我没听懂 (Wǒ méi tīng dǒng)
This means “I didn’t understand” when referring to listening, emphasizing past tense.
e.g.
刚才的内容我没听懂。 (Gāngcái de nèiróng wǒ méi tīng dǒng.) I didn’t understand the content just now.
昨天的课我没听懂。 (Zuótiān de kè wǒ méi tīng dǒng.) I didn’t understand yesterday’s class.
你的问题我没听懂。 (Nǐ de wèntí wǒ méi tīng dǒng.) I didn’t understand your question.
我看不懂 (Wǒ kàn bù dǒng)
This specifically means “I don’t understand” when referring to reading or seeing.
e.g.
这本书我看不懂。 (Zhè běn shū wǒ kàn bù dǒng.) I don’t understand this book.
这些符号我看不懂。 (Zhèxiē fúhào wǒ kàn bù dǒng.) I don’t understand these symbols.
这篇文章我看不懂。 (Zhè piān wénzhāng wǒ kàn bù dǒng.) I don’t understand this article.
我没看懂 (Wǒ méi kàn dǒng)
This means “I didn’t understand” when referring to reading or seeing, emphasizing past tense.
e.g.
这个说明我没看懂。 (Zhège shuōmíng wǒ méi kàn dǒng.) I didn’t understand this instruction.
昨天的作业我没看懂。 (Zuótiān de zuòyè wǒ méi kàn dǒng.) I didn’t understand yesterday’s homework.
这封信我没看懂。 (Zhè fēng xìn wǒ méi kàn dǒng.) I didn’t understand this letter.
我不太明白 (Wǒ bù tài míngbái)
This means “I don’t quite understand” and is a softer way of expressing confusion.
e.g.
我不太明白你在说什么。 (Wǒ bù tài míngbái nǐ zài shuō shénme.) I don’t quite understand what you are saying.
我不太明白这个概念。 (Wǒ bù tài míngbái zhège gàiniàn.) I don’t quite understand this concept.
我不太明白你为什么这么说。 (Wǒ bù tài míngbái nǐ wèishéme zhème shuō.) I don’t quite understand why you say that.
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