理解 from HSK Level 3 Vocabulary List

The Chinese word 理解 (lǐjiě) means "to understand" or "to comprehend". It is composed of two characters: 理 (lǐ), which means "reason" or "principle", and 解 (jiě), which means "to loosen" or "to untie". Together, these two characters suggest the idea of "untying the knots of reason" or "making sense of something".The word 理解 has been used in Chinese for centuries, and it has a rich history of usage. In ancient Chinese texts, it was often used in a philosophical context, to refer to the process of understanding the underlying principles of the universe. In modern Chinese, it is used more broadly to refer to the process of understanding anything, from a simple concept to a complex idea.理解 is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. It can be used as a verb, as in the sentence "我理解你的意思" (wǒ lǐjiě nǐ de yìsi, "I understand what you mean"), or as a noun, as in the sentence "我对这个概念的理解还不够深刻" (wǒ duì zhège gàiniàn de lǐjiě hái bùgòu shēnkè, "My understanding of this concept is not yet deep enough").理解 is an important word for HSK learners to know, as it is used frequently in both spoken and written Chinese. By understanding the etymology of this word, learners can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and usage.