Which one should you use?
The present tense 分かりますか？ is often used to check if someone understands a concept or a general state. In contrast, the past tense 分かりましたか？ checks if a specific instruction was grasped.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal version can be written in kanji as 分かりますか？ or in hiragana as わかりますか？ For casual settings with friends or subordinates, you can use the shortened informal form 分かる？ In highly formal business or customer service contexts, 分かりますか？ can sound blunt or condescending. In these situations, much more polite phrasing such as ご理解いただけますでしょうか？ (Could I have your understanding?) is used instead. Other formal variations include 分かるようになりましたか？ (Have you come to understand?) and 理解できましたか？ (Were you able to comprehend?). Informal options include わかってる？ (Are you understanding?) and 分かった？ (Did you understand?).
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense form 分かりましたか？ is used to ask if someone understood something that was just explained or completed.
How do you pronounce it?
Wakarimasu ka?
When do people say it?
When someone asks if you understand, a standard affirmative response is はい、分かります。 (Yes, I understand.), while a standard negative response is いいえ、分かりません。 (No, I don't understand.).
Did you know?
- The verb used in 分かりますか comes from the same root as words for 'to divide' or 'to separate', implying that to understand something is to be able to discern its parts.
- Japanese culture often relies on 'reading the air', so if a person says 分かります while looking slightly hesitant, it is often a polite way of saying they actually do not understand.
- When a Japanese speaker says 分かりました (I understood) to a boss, they are not just confirming comprehension, but are also signaling their formal agreement to carry out a task.
Examples in context
- これ、わかった？Did you understand this?
- この使い方は分かりますか？Kono tsukaikata wa wakarimasu ka?Do you understand how to use this?
- 私の説明は分かりますか？Watashi no setsumei wa wakarimasu ka?Do you understand my explanation?
- 意味は分かりますか？Imi wa wakarimasu ka?Do you understand the meaning?
Example conversation
A teacher is explaining a new rule to a student in a classroom.
- 健太 Kenta新しいルールは分かりますか？Atarashii ruuru wa wakarimasu ka?Do you understand the new rule?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、分かります。Hai, wakarimasu.Yes, I understand.
- 健太 Kenta良かったです。Yokatta desu.I'm glad.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
