分かる
わかる·wakaru
Meaning
to understand; to know; to grasp; to become clear
Nuance & Usage
分かる is one of the most frequently used verbs, meaning "to understand" or "to know." A crucial grammar point: the subject (what is understood) takes が, not を: 日本語が分かる (understand Japanese). This is because 分かる is intransitive — the thing understood "becomes clear" to you, rather than you actively doing something to it. Common responses: 分かりました (I understood / got it), 分かりません (I don't understand).
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake: using を instead of が. ✗ 日本語を分かる ✓ 日本語が分かる. This is because 分かる is not an action you perform on something — it's a state where something is clear to you. Also, 分かりました is past tense but functions as "I understand" (right now) — a confusing point for learners. In casual speech, 分かった (wakatta — got it) is very common.
Example Sentences (3)
日本語が少し分かります。
にほんごがすこしわかります。
I understand a little Japanese.
すみません、よく分かりませんでした。
すみません、よくわかりませんでした。
I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand.
分かりました。もう一度やってみます。
わかりました。もういちどやってみます。
I understand. I'll try again.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 分かる with 4 different question types.
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