明白 (míngbai)

明白 means to understand something clearly, or to describe something as clear and obvious.

Meanings

[verb] to understand; to realize
[adjective] clear; obvious; plain

Example Sentences

你明白我的意思吗？ Nǐ míngbai wǒ de yìsi ma? Do you understand what I mean?

我现在终于明白了。 Wǒ xiànzài zhōngyú míngbaile. I finally understand now.

他把问题说得很明白。 Tā bǎ wèntí shuō de hěn míngbai. He explained the problem very clearly.

这件事情你要明白。 Zhè jiàn shìqíng nǐ yào míngbai. You need to be clear about this matter.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
明白了 (míngbaile)	understood; I see
说明白 (shuō míngbai)	to explain clearly
搞明白 (gǎo míngbai)	to figure out
明白道理 (míngbai dàolǐ)	to understand the reasoning

Usage Notes

明白 is frequently used as a response to show you have understood, similar to saying "I see" or "got it" in English. As an adjective it describes clarity of expression or thought. It is more informal than 理解 (lǐjiě) and suits everyday conversation.

Memory Hook

When something becomes bright (明) and white (白), it is crystal clear — you truly understand it.