日本語が少し分かります
nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu
The English phrase "I know a little bit of japanese" is translated into Japanese as 日本語が少し分かります (nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu).
This phrase is used to state that you have a basic or limited understanding of the Japanese language. While the phrase focuses on the concept of understanding, you can also use a variation that emphasizes your ability to speak or perform tasks in the language.
Which one should you use?
The phrase 日本語が少し分かります focuses on the level of your understanding. Additionally, the form 日本語が少し分かる is an informal version of the phrase.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 日本語が少し分かります, the verb is in the polite masu form. The verb 分かります (wakarimasu) is used in formal situations to mean "to understand."
How do you pronounce it?
nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu
Did you know?
- If you are actually quite good at Japanese, using the phrase 少し分かります (sukoshi wakarimasu) can trigger a 'white lie' effect. Native speakers often assume you are being humble and will actually speak to you at a much higher speed than you can handle.
- In Japanese, there is a linguistic distinction between 分かる (wakaru), used in this phrase to mean comprehension, and 知っている (shitte-iru), which is used for knowing facts like someone's phone number.
- In many Japanese contexts, if you want to be truly polite when a stranger offers to help you with the language, it is more common to say you 'cannot do' the language rather than saying how much you 'can' do.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about language skills.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さんは、日本語を話せますか。Ren-san wa, nihongo o hanasemasu ka.Ren, can you speak Japanese?
- 蓮 Renはい、日本語が少し分かります。Hai, nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu.Yes, I know a little bit of Japanese.
- 美咲 Misakiすごいですね！どこで勉強しましたか。Sugoi desu ne! Doko de benkyou shimashita ka.That's amazing! Where did you study?
- 蓮 Ren独学で勉強しました。Dokugaku de benkyou shimashita.I studied on my own.
