看懂 is a compound verb meaning 'to understand (something read or seen)'. It combines 看 (kàn, 'to look' or 'to read') and 懂 (dǒng, 'to understand'), expressing the successful comprehension of visual or written information — such as text, signs, diagrams, or even facial expressions. Unlike general verbs like 理解 (lǐjiě), which can refer to abstract or spoken understanding, 看懂 specifically implies that understanding arises from *seeing* — whether reading a sentence, interpreting a chart, or following instructions with illustrations.

This verb is commonly used in everyday contexts involving literacy, learning, or practical communication: reading a menu, following a manual, deciphering handwriting, or grasping subtitles. It often appears with objects like 说明书 (instruction manual), 菜单 (menu), or 字 (characters), and frequently takes aspect particles like 了 or 过. It’s neutral in register — appropriate for both casual speech and formal writing — and almost always requires an object or context indicating *what* was understood visually.