How to Say ‘I Don’t Know’ in Taiwanese Mandarin (with Audio Examples)

 

 

 

In Japanese, there are various expressions for “I don’t know,” “I can’t understand,” or “I’m not sure,” depending on the situation and nuance. Similarly, Taiwanese Mandarin offers several ways to convey “I don’t know.” To express “I don’t know” naturally in everyday conversation, it’s essential to choose the right expression for the context.

This article covers a range of common expressions, from frequently used phrases like “我不知道 (wǒ bù zhīdào),” “我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng),” and “我不明白 (wǒ bù míngbái),” to more casual expressions unique to Taiwan.

1. 我不知道 (wǒ bù zhīdào)

• Explanation: This expression is used when you don’t have the information or haven’t heard about something. It means “I don’t know” and is perfect for situations where you lack the information itself.

  Example sentences:
  • 他今天會來嗎？我不知道。
    (Tā jīntiān huì lái ma? Wǒ bù zhīdào.)
    “Is he coming today?” “I don’t know.”
  • 你知道這是什麼嗎？我不知道。
    (Nǐ zhīdào zhè shì shénme ma? Wǒ bù zhīdào.)
    “Do you know what this is?” “I don’t know.”

2. 我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng)

• Explanation: This phrase is used when you can’t understand what someone is saying or explaining. It carries a nuance of not comprehending the content or finding it difficult.Example sentences:
  • 他在說什麼？我不懂。
    (Tā zài shuō shénme? Wǒ bù dǒng.)
    “What is he saying?” “I don’t understand.”
  • 這篇文章太難了，我不懂。
    (Zhè piān wénzhāng tài nán le, wǒ bù dǒng.)
    “This article is too difficult; I can’t understand it.”

3. 我不明白 (wǒ bù míngbái)

• Explanation: This phrase is used when you can understand something to a certain extent but don’t fully grasp or agree with it. It’s suitable for situations where something doesn’t quite make sense or leaves you with lingering doubts.Example sentences:
  • 他剛才講的道理，我不明白。
    (Tā gāngcái jiǎng de dàolǐ, wǒ bù míngbái.)
    “I don’t quite understand the reasoning he was just talking about.”
  • 你為什麼這樣做？我不明白。
    (Nǐ wèishéme zhèyàng zuò? Wǒ bù míngbái.)
    “Why are you doing it this way? I can’t understand (or accept) it.”

4. 聽不懂 (tīng bù dǒng)

• Explanation: This expression is used when you can’t understand what’s being said, especially if the speaker is talking too quickly or their pronunciation is unclear, making it hard to follow.Example sentences:
  • 他講得太快了，我聽不懂。
    (Tā jiǎng de tài kuài le, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.)
    “He’s speaking too fast; I can’t understand.”
  • 你說的專業詞彙，我聽不懂。
    (Nǐ shuō de zhuānyè cíhuì, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.)
    “I don’t understand the technical terms you’re using.”

5. 看不懂 (kàn bù dǒng)

• Explanation: This phrase is used when you can’t understand the meaning of written text. It’s especially appropriate for difficult content or unfamiliar words that make the text hard to read.Example sentences:
  • 這本書的內容我看不懂。
    (Zhè běn shū de nèiróng wǒ kàn bù dǒng.)
    “I can’t understand the content of this book.”
  • 他寫的字我看不懂。
    (Tā xiě de zì wǒ kàn bù dǒng.)
    “I can’t read (or understand) his handwriting.”

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6. 我不曉得 (wǒ bù xiǎo de)

Meaning: “I don’t know.”

Nuance: Similar to “我不知道 (wǒ bù zhīdào),” but it has a slightly softer or more casual tone, giving a somewhat vague feeling. In Taiwan, “不曉得 (bù xiǎo de)” is commonly used in spoken language.

Example sentences:

• • 他會不會來？我不曉得。
    (Tā huì bù huì lái? Wǒ bù xiǎo de.)
    “Will he come? I don’t know.”
  • 這是什麼意思？我不曉得。
    (Zhè shì shénme yìsi? Wǒ bù xiǎo de.)
    “What does this mean? I’m not sure.”

7. 我沒聽懂 (wǒ méi tīng dǒng)

Meaning: “I didn’t understand what I heard.”

Nuance: Often used when you didn’t catch or understand what someone said, “没聽懂 (méi tīng dǒng)” is a straightforward way to express this. While similar to “聽不懂 (tīng bù dǒng),” it places more emphasis on the specific instance of not understanding what was heard.

Example sentence:

• • 你剛才說的，我沒聽懂。
    (Nǐ gāngcái shuō de, wǒ méi tīng dǒng.)
    “I didn’t understand what you just said.”

8. 我沒看懂 (wǒ méi kàn dǒng)

Meaning: “I didn’t understand what I saw” or “I couldn’t read it.”

Nuance: Similar to “看不懂 (kàn bù dǒng),” but it sounds even more casual. This expression is often used when written information isn’t clear or understandable.

Example sentence:

• • 這句話我沒看懂。
    (Zhè jù huà wǒ méi kàn dǒng.)
    “I didn’t understand the meaning of this sentence.”

9. 我搞不清楚 (wǒ gǎo bù qīng chǔ)

10. 我抓不到頭緒 (wǒ zhuā bù dào tóuxù)

Meaning: “I can’t grasp the clue” or “I don’t understand the whole picture.”

Nuance: The term “頭緒 (tóuxù)” means “clue” or “hint,” and this expression is used when you can’t make sense of something or are unable to piece together complex information. It’s perfect for situations where there’s too much information, making it hard to get a clear understanding.

Example sentences:

• 這件事情我完全抓不到頭緒。
  (Zhè jiàn shìqíng wǒ wánquán zhuā bù dào tóuxù.)
  “I can’t grasp any clue about this matter at all.”
• 你在說什麼？我抓不到頭緒。
  (Nǐ zài shuō shénme? Wǒ zhuā bù dào tóuxù.)
  “What are you talking about? I don’t understand at all.”

11. 我一頭霧水 (wǒ yì tóu wù shuǐ)

Meaning: “I’m totally confused” or “I have no idea.”

Nuance: Literally translating to “my head is shrouded in fog,” this expression is used to describe a state of complete confusion or inability to understand. It’s perfect for moments when you’re utterly lost or bewildered.

Example sentences:

• 這堂課的內容讓我一頭霧水。
  (Zhè táng kè de nèiróng ràng wǒ yì tóu wù shuǐ.)
  “The content of this class left me completely confused.”
• 他的話我聽了以後一頭霧水。
  (Tā de huà wǒ tīng le yǐhòu yì tóu wù shuǐ.)
  “After listening to him, I was totally lost.”