领会

• Pinyin: lǐng huì
• Hanzi breakdown: 领 = 令 + 页 (lead, guide); 会 = 人 + 云 (assemble, understand)

Meaning

To grasp; to comprehend the true meaning or spirit of something. Implies a deeper level of understanding beyond surface knowledge.

Often used in formal or intellectual contexts when one must understand not just the surface content but the underlying intention or significance. Common with abstract ideas, policy documents, speeches, or literary works.

Examples

1. 他反复阅读这篇文章，才逐渐领会了作者深藏其中的思想内涵。 Only after rereading the article again and again did he gradually grasp the ideas the author had hidden within it.
2. 年轻干部需要认真学习政策文件，深入领会其精神实质而非停留于字面。 Young officials need to study policy documents carefully and grasp their underlying spirit, not just the literal wording.
3. 这首古诗语言简练，其中蕴含的哲理需要读者反复品味才能领会。 This ancient poem uses concise language, and the philosophy it contains requires repeated savoring to truly grasp.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, political, literary

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 我们需要深入领会这项政策的核心精神。(We need to deeply grasp the core spirit of this policy.)
• 他完全领会了老师话语中的深意。(He fully grasped the deeper meaning behind the teacher's words.)

Don't Say

• 把领会和理解随意替换 — 领会 implies a deeper, more active grasp of underlying meaning; 理解 is more neutral and applies to surface comprehension (When surface-level comprehension is intended, use 理解 rather than 领会, which implies deeper insight)

Origin & History

领 (to lead, to grasp) + 会 (to understand, to meet, to assemble) — to grasp the convergence of ideas; to truly understand.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal