Meaning
With わかります, the thing understood is normally marked by が rather than を.
Formation
- What is understood takes が, not を: 日本語がわかります
- The person is the topic: 私は日本語がわかります
When to use it
- Core use
- Shows that information is understood
Examples
16 sentences-
私はひらがながわかります
I understand hiragana.
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日本語が少しわかります
I understand a little Japanese.
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この言葉の意味がわかりません
I do not understand the meaning of this word.
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駅までの道がわかりますか
Do you know the way to the station?
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先生の説明がよくわかりました
I understood the teacher's explanation well.
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答えがわかりません
I do not know the answer.
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この漢字の読み方が分かりますか
Do you know how to read this kanji?
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先生の説明がよく分かりました
I understood the teacher's explanation well.
8 more examples
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私はフランス語が分かりません
I do not understand French.
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駅への行き方が分かりました
I figured out how to get to the station.
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この言葉の意味がまだ分かりません
I do not understand the meaning of this word yet.
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兄はコンピューターがよく分かります
My older brother understands computers well.
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この質問が分かりますか
Do you understand this question?
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この地図がよく分かりません
I do not understand this map very well.
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妹は日本語が少し分かります
My younger sister understands a little Japanese.
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田中さんの気持ちがよく分かります
I understand Mr. Tanaka's feelings well.
Important notes
- 分かる takes が for what is understood — 日本語が分かります. 分かりました means 'I see' or 'understood'; 分かりません can mean 'I don't understand' or 'I don't know'.
Common mistakes
- Do not use を in the basic pattern: 意味が分かる, not 意味を分かる. The person who understands is the topic: 私は日本語が分かります.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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