Which one should you use?
分かります is a polite form used to express that you understand. In contrast, the casual form 分かる is used with friends and family. For a higher level of formal understanding, you can use よくわかりました.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
分かります is a polite form. For informal settings, use the simple and straightforward わかった. In business or colloquial settings, 了解です is often used to mean "Understood" or "Roger" when acknowledging an instruction or a task. When you want to say "I understood" formally, わかりました is a standard and common choice.
How does it change in a sentence?
To state that you do not understand something, use the negative form 分かりません. If you have just grasped a piece of information or have completed the act of understanding, use the past tense form 分かりました to mean "I understood".
How do you pronounce it?
wakarimasu
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid trying to translate "I understand you" by adding a literal translation of "you". It is more natural to simply say 分かります or to use the object marker を with the specific thing being understood.
Did you know?
- The kanji 分 in 分かります literally means 'to divide' or 'to separate'. This suggests that understanding is the act of breaking a complex concept down into smaller, distinguishable parts.
- In a conversation, a listener may repeat 分かります multiple times as a 'backchannel' cue to show they are listening, even if no new information is being conveyed.
- If someone says 分かりません ('I don't understand') in a social context, it can sometimes be a polite way of saying 'I cannot agree to this' or 'this is not acceptable'.
Examples in context
- あなたの言うことは分かります。I understand what you mean.This example shows how to use 分かります to express understanding of what someone means.Tatoeba #233342 by bunbuku, translation #70712 by CK
- 彼女の言っていることは分かります。I understand what she's saying.This example shows how to use 分かります to express understanding of what someone is currently saying.Tatoeba #1209965 by bunbuku, translation #3658410 by AlanF_US
- 言わなくても、あなたの気持ちや考えてることぐらい分かります。I understand your feelings and thoughts even without words.This example shows how to use 分かります to express understanding of feelings and thoughts without words.Tatoeba #11199242 by small_snow, translation #5023591 by AlanF_US
- 説明を聞いたので、わかりました。I understood because I listened to the explanation.
- 全部を読み終えましたので、よくわかりました。I have finished reading everything, so I understood it well.
- そのルールはよく心得ています。I have a good understanding of that rule.
- 了解、わかったよ！Got it, I understand!
- その科学の本、さっぱりわかんないんだよね。I really don't understand that science book at all.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki explains a new rule to Kenta at work.
- 美咲 Misakiここにある書類をコピーしてください。Koko ni aru shorui o kopi shite kudasai.Please copy the documents here.
- 健太 Kentaはい、分かります。Hai, wakarimasu.Yes, I understand.
- 美咲 Misaki終わったら私の机に置いてね。Owattara watashi no tsukue ni oite ne.Put them on my desk when you're finished.
- 健太 Kenta了解しました。Ryokai shimashita.Understood.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
