이해하다
ihaehada[ˈi(ː)ɦɛɦa̠da̠]
To understand in Korean, the default form is 이해하다 (ihaehada). Wiktionary also lists 알다 (alda) and 리해하다 (rihaehada).
Meaning: to grasp the meaning of (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이해하다 | ihaehada | [ˈi(ː)ɦɛɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈi(ː)ɦe̞ɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 알다 | alda | [ˈa̠(ː)ɭda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 리해하다 | rihaehada | North Korea |
The verb 이해하다 is used to describe the cognitive process of grasping the meaning of something. It is specifically used when you want to emphasize the intellectual comprehension of a logic, a reason or a complex explanation.
Which one should you use?
While 이해하다 focuses on the cognitive process of grasping a concept, 알다 is more commonly used to express the state of knowing a fact or information. Use 이해하다 when the emphasis is on the intellectual comprehension of logic or reasoning.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Korea, the standard spelling for this concept is 리해하다, whereas South Korea uses 이해하다.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you have understood something in the past tense, use the past tense form 이해했다. In everyday polite conversation, the verb 이해하다 is typically conjugated to 이해해요.
How do you pronounce it?
ihaehada
Did you know?
- In Korean, the word 이해 in 이해하다 is composed of characters meaning 'to separate' and 'to disassemble'. This suggests that understanding is the act of breaking a complex idea down into its smaller parts.
- Korean has a specific expression 말이 되다, which literally means 'to become words', used to say a statement 'makes sense' or is 'understandable' in a logical way.
- When a Korean speaker says 알겠습니다, they aren't just saying 'I understand', but are often signaling that they will carry out a command or instruction.
Examples in context
- 회의의 내용을 완전히 알겠습니다.I fully understand the contents of the meeting.
- 알았어, 내일 만나자!Got it, let's meet tomorrow!
- 너의 말을 이해했어.I understood what you said.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “understand” translations and entries 이해하다, 알다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
