一知半解 yī zhī bàn jiě

have only a vague idea; half-baked knowledge

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 35137th word

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. to know one and understand half (idiom); a smattering of knowledge
  2. 2. amateur
  3. 3. dilettante

Characters

Character Meaning
一 yī HSK 1
one; 1; single
知 zhī HSK 2
to know; to be aware
半 bàn HSK 3
half; (after a number) and a half; semi-
解 jiě HSK 3
to understand; to explain; to solve