How to say "I don't understand" in Chinese

The structure is 我 (I) + 听 (listen) + 不 (not) + 懂 (understand). The 不 negates the verb 懂, and the 听 specifies that you don't understand what you hear. It's a fixed pattern for expressing inability to understand spoken language.

Use this when you don't understand what someone is saying, especially in noisy places like airports. It's polite and direct. A common mistake is saying 我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng) without 听, which means "I don't understand" in a general sense but is less specific to listening. Stick to 我听不懂 when you need someone to repeat or speak slower.