Jump to content
Chinese-Forums
  • Sign Up

Recommended Posts

Posted

Both these phrases mean "to understand" according to google translate. Are they used in different ways or.....?(they even sound the same)

Posted

traditional chinese :瞭解    and simplified chinese:了解。  they are the same meaning in two way of writing. Normaly the simplified is widely used in mainland, the traditional is used in Hongkong, Maco, Taiwan.    

Posted
  Johnchao222 said:

traditional chinese :瞭解 and simplified chinese:了解。

I used to think so (because it is a convenient explanation) but some years ago I had to vet translation of reports and also proofread them. 了解 frequently appeared in the reports I worked on. So I have looked up dictionaries, and they don't support the quote above.

Let's take a look at the Taiwan MOE Dictionary (bear in mind that the traditional script is used in Taiwan).

了解 - https://www.moedict.tw/%E4%BA%86%E8%A7%A3

瞭解 - https://www.moedict.tw/%E7%9E%AD%E8%A7%A3

Also, the Lin Yutang Dictionary (an old dictionary maintained by the CHUK in HK, where the traditional script is used) lists 了解 only.

PS - After some study, my conclusion back then was that 瞭解 was not correct or at least not a term that I would want in my reports. So I chose 了解. And in Hong Kong, of course we use the traditional script.

  • Like 2
Posted
  Quote

 

 

traditional chinese :瞭解    and simplified chinese:了解。  they are the same meaning in two way of writing. Normaly the simplified is widely used in mainland, the traditional is used in Hongkong, Maco, Taiwan.  

 

@skylee said:

  Quote

 

 

I used to think so (because it is a convenient explanation) but some years ago I had to vet translation of reports and also proofread them. 了解 frequently appeared in the reports I worked on. So I have looked up dictionaries, and they don't support the quote above.

 

I believe you are commenting on the last part of @Johnchao222's reply: "...the traditional is used in Hongkong, Maco, Taiwan." Is this correct? To clarify, you are saying that 了解 is more common than 瞭解 in Taiwan? If this is your meaning, then I agree with you. If this is not your meaning, then could you clarify?

 

  Quote

 

 

After some study, my conclusion back then was that 瞭解 was not correct or at least not a term that I would want in my reports.

 

It's not incorrect to write 瞭解, it's just that 了解 is far more common nowadays (as you concluded).

  • Like 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Click here to reply. Select text to quote.

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...