我听不懂
wǒ tīng bù dǒng
I do not understand what I hear
我听不懂 means you cannot understand something you heard. It is a useful repair phrase when native speakers talk too quickly.
Example sentences
不好意思，我听不懂。
Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.
Sorry, I do not understand.
你说慢一点，我听不懂。
Nǐ shuō màn yìdiǎn, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.
Please speak slower, I do not understand.
How to use 我听不懂 in practice
我听不懂 is a listening item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin wǒ tīng bù dǒng, then connect it to the meaning “I do not understand what I hear” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 不好意思，我听不懂。 / 你说慢一点，我听不懂。.
When you practice 我听不懂, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 我听不懂 only as “I do not understand what I hear” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Chinese listening practice, start a short conversation, and use 我听不懂 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 我听不懂 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only wǒ tīng bù dǒng, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
What is the difference between 不懂 and 听不懂?
不懂 means you do not understand generally. 听不懂 emphasizes not understanding what you heard.
How can I remember 我听不懂 faster?
Say 我听不懂 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 我听不懂 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 我听不懂 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach