JLPT N5 · Experience, preferences, and exchange

Nがわかります

Shows that information is understood

Meaning

With わかります, the thing understood is normally marked by が rather than を.

Formation

  1. What is understood takes が, not を: 日本語がわかります
  2. 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
  • 日本語にほんごが少しすこしわかります

    I understand a little Japanese.

  • この言葉ことばの意味いみがわかりません

    I do not understand the meaning of this word.

  • 駅えきまでの道みちがわかりますか

    Do you know the way to the station?

  • 先生せんせいの説明せつめいがよくわかりました

    I understood the teacher's explanation well.

  • 答えこたえがわかりません

    I do not know the answer.

  • この漢字かんじの読み方よみかたが分かりわかりますか

    Do you know how to read this kanji?

  • 先生せんせいの説明せつめいがよく分かりわかりました

    I understood the teacher's explanation well.

8 more examples
  • 私わたしはフランス語フランスごが分かりわかりません

    I do not understand French.

  • 駅えきへの行き方いきかたが分かりわかりました

    I figured out how to get to the station.

  • この言葉ことばの意味いみがまだ分かりわかりません

    I do not understand the meaning of this word yet.

  • 兄あにはコンピューターがよく分かりわかります

    My older brother understands computers well.

  • この質問しつもんが分かりわかりますか

    Do you understand this question?

  • この地図ちずがよく分かりわかりません

    I do not understand this map very well.

  • 妹いもうとは日本語にほんごが少しすこし分かりわかります

    My younger sister understands a little Japanese.

  • 田中たなかさんの気持ちきもちがよく分かりわかります

    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.

  1. Sentence 1: 私わたしはフランス語フランスごが分かりわかりません

  2. Sentence 2: この質問しつもんが分かりわかりますか

  3. Sentence 3: 田中たなかさんの気持ちきもちがよく分かりわかります

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