When to use 知道 instead of 懂
I am watching "The Myth" television series. Several times one of the actors was talking on the phone and was told what to do by his boss. He responded 知道. I would have thought he should have responded 懂. When is it appropriate to respond with 知道 instead of 懂 or 明白.

Question

When to use 知道 instead of 懂
I am watching "The Myth" television series.  Several times one of the actors was talking on the phone and was told what to do by his boss.  He responded 知道.  I would have thought he should have responded 懂.  When is it appropriate to respond with 知道 instead of 懂 or 明白.

Answer

懂 has much deeper understanding than 知道.  When you say 我懂, it means you know it very clearly, not superficially, you understand it thoroughly.

Answer

知道 = I know
懂 = I understand

Answer

绝大多数时候，知道/懂了/明白，都可以用来应对老板的指示。只有“明白”是个万金油，通杀，极少数时候，“知道”和“懂了”不宜换用。

Answer

Boss: Do sth or don't do sth.
Employee: 知道/明白（=Yes, sir, I have received your instructions, I will）
Boss: (some reason or situation), so do sth or don't.
Employee: 懂了/明白（=I see, got it）
Boss: There will be a meeting.
Employee: 明白（=I know what I should do and how to do）

Ordinary struction, use 知道， for important instruction, 明白 is better. and 明白 is fit for all the conditions.

Answers · 6

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