了解 is also the simplified spelling of 瞭解.

了解

Mandarin · pinyin liǎo jiě

Meanings

  1. to understand; to know about
  2. to learn about; to find out
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Characters in this entry

了
le · to finish; particle of completed action
解
jiě · loosen, unfasten, untie; explain; hexagram ䷧
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–3 · liao3 jie3

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2character links1same-tone record
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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

liu5 gaai2

Cantonese word readings for 了解. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

verb

  1. to understand; to comprehend; to learn; to know
  2. to inquire about; to find out about; to acquaint oneself with

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack