Correct

理解 vs 了解

/ lǐjiě vs liǎojiě /
Strokes

Definition

理解 and 了解 both are Verbs, which means [to understand; to comprehend; to know].

Example

To understand the truth, meaning, etc. not just by the superficial meaning of the words through thinking and reasoning.
In the examples, 理解 can be replaced by 了解, but the stress will be just to know.
1
de
huà
méi
quán
shuō
chūlái
出来
  
,
dànshì
但是
jiě
理解
  
(
liǎojiě
了解
  
)
le
  

Though he only told me part of his words, but I see what he will say.

2
Gānggang
刚刚
gǎnjué
感觉
dào
de
dōng
东西
dìng
一定
shàng
马上
jiù
néng
jiě
理解
  
(
liǎojiě
了解
  
)
  

What has been learned is not likely to sink in.

3
Zhè
piān
wénzhāng
文章
xuésheng
学生
men
jiě
理解
  
(
liǎojiě
了解
  
)
de
hěn
shēn
深刻
  

Students have a good comprehension about the text.

理解 indicates that the speaker considers the existence or origination of some situation is reasonable,not strange,and may even be sympathetic.
In the examples, the meaning is "to be kept intact". 理解 cannot be replaced by 了解.
4
wánquán
完全
jiě
理解
shíyàn
实验
shībài
失败
hòu
de
xīnqíng
心情
  

I understand your feeling completely when you fail in your experiment.

5
jiā
大家
dōu
néng
jiě
理解
de
zhōng
苦衷
  

Every one can understand your difficulties.

6
Rén
rén
zhījiān
之间
yào
jīngcháng
经常
gōutōng
沟通
  
,
cái
néng
xiāng
互相
jiě
理解
  

If people want to know each other,they should communicate frequently.

了解 indicates that one understands (the meaning, content, etc.).
In the examples, 了解 can be replaced by 理解, but the stress will be on inference and reasonings.
7
hái
lexiè
了解
  
(
jiě
理解
  
)
zhè
shǒu
shī
古诗
de
si
意思
  

I cannot understand the ancient poem yet.

8
men
我们
dàn
不但
yào
liǎojiě
了解
  
(
jiě
理解
  
)
词义
  
,
hái
yìng
zhǎng
de
yòng
用法
  

We not only understand the meaning of a word,but also master its usage.

了解 indicates that one knows details, etc.
In the examples, 了解 cannot be replaced by 理解 either.
9
liǎojiě
了解
men
他们
zhījiān
之间
de
guānxi
关系
ma
  
?

Do you know their relation ship?

10
men
我们
zhǐ
shì
bān
一般
de
tóngshì
同事
  
,
de
jīng
经历
bìng
liǎojiě
了解
  

We are just average colleages, and I don't know his experiences.

11
lexiè
了解
qíngkuàng
情况
  
,
méiyǒu
没有
yánquán
发言权
  

I have no idea about it, so I have no right to say.

了解 indicates that one gets to know something through investigation or inquiry.
In the examples, 了解 cannot be replaced by 理解 either.
12
Lǎoshī
老师
yào
liǎojiě
了解
xuésheng
学生
wài
课外
de
xué
学习
qíngkuàng
情况
  

A teacher should know something about his students' learning after class.

13
men
我们
yīnggāi
应该
liǎojiě
了解
xià
  
,
jiā
大家
yǒu
xiē
哪些
xiǎng
想法
  

We should know everyone's opinions.

14
Zhèng
政府
jīng
已经
pài
rén
liǎojiě
了解
shìjiàn
事件
shēng
发生
de
yuányīn
原因
le
  

Someone has beer sent to investigate the cause of the accident.