🇯🇵 How to say

“to understand” in Japanese

分かるわかる
Illustration of "to understand" in a Japanese cultural setting
A student's face lights up as they finally grasp a difficult math problem on the chalkboard. Their teacher smiles warmly, seeing the moment of understanding dawn.

Usage note

分かる is used when knowledge or comprehension clicks into place. It's less formal than 理解する and very common in daily conversation. Think of the 'aha!' moment when something becomes clear.

Examples

  • 日本語が分かります。

    I understand Japanese.

  • この道が分かりますか。

    Do you understand this road? (Do you know the way?)

  • 彼の気持ちが分かる。

    I understand his feelings.

Quick check

What does "分かる" mean?

  • A. to understand
  • B. to open
  • C. to study
  • D. to find

First quiz is free.

Want more?

SimpleLits Pro unlocks alternate example sentences, audio pronunciation, the full quiz pack, and save-to-deck spaced repetition.

See Pro plans

Also see