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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'being clear' or 'understanding' with 清楚 (qīngchu)

    Degree & Intensity
    Description & Modification

    Structure

    尚 + 不 + 清楚 + Clause

    Explanation

    清楚 (qīngchu) means "clear" or "to understand clearly." It can function as both an adjective meaning "clear" and a verb meaning "to know/understand." A common pattern is 不清楚, meaning "not clear" or "unclear." For example, 尚不清楚 means "it is not yet clear."

    Examples

    • 这件事的原因目前还不清楚。

      Zhè jiàn shì de yuányīn mùqián hái bù qīngchǔ.

      The cause of this matter is still unclear at present.

    • 你能说清楚到底发生了什么吗？

      Nǐ néng shuō qīngchǔ dàodǐ fāshēng le shénme ma?

      Can you explain clearly what exactly happened?

    • 我不太清楚他为什么突然辞职了。

      Wǒ bú tài qīngchǔ tā wèishéme tūrán cízhí le.

      I'm not very clear on why he suddenly resigned.

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