分(わ)かる

わかる
verb (godan)
to understand, to know
1. to understand, to comprehend
To grasp the meaning of something. Used for understanding language, concepts, feelings, or situations.
分(わ)かった。
Got it.
日本語(にほんご)が分(わ)かる?
Do you understand Japanese?
意味(いみ)が分(わ)かりません。
I don't understand the meaning.
よく分(わ)からないけど、やってみる。
I don't really understand, but I'll try.
説明(せつめい)を聞(き)いても分(わ)からなかったので、もう一度(いちど)聞(き)き直(なお)した。
I didn't understand even after hearing the explanation, so I asked again.
2. to know, to recognize
To be able to identify or distinguish something. 違(ちが)いが分(わ)かる (to know the difference).
違(ちが)いが分(わ)かる。
I can tell the difference.
顔(かお)を見(み)れば分(わ)かる。
I can tell by looking at your face.
声(こえ)で分(わ)かった。
I recognized the voice.
この料理(りょうり)のおいしさが分(わ)かる人(ひと)は少(すく)ない。
Few people can appreciate how delicious this dish is.
長(なが)く付(つ)き合(あ)えば、その人(ひと)の本当(ほんとう)の性格(せいかく)が分(わ)かってくる。
If you know someone for a long time, you come to understand their true personality.
3. to be found out, to become clear
For something to be discovered or determined. 結果(けっか)が分(わ)かる (the results become known).
結果(けっか)が分(わ)かる。
The results are known.
原因(げんいん)が分(わ)かった。
The cause was found.
名前(なまえ)が分(わ)かりましたか。
Did you find out the name?
調(しら)べれば分(わ)かるよ。
If you look it up, you'll find out.
検査(けんさ)の結果(けっか)が分(わ)かるまで、一週間(いっしゅうかん)ぐらいかかります。
It will take about a week until the test results are known.

TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). No pair verb. Pattern: Xが分(わ)かる (X is understood) - uses が not を.

ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing state. 分(わ)かっている = 'knows/understands' (current knowledge state).

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 日本語(にほんご)が分(わ)かる (understand Japanese)
  • 意味(いみ)が分(わ)かる (understand meaning)
  • 分(わ)かりました (understood/got it)
  • よく分(わ)からない (don't really understand)

Godan verb: te-form 分(わ)かって. Takes が because it expresses a state. Also written: 解(わ)かる, 判(わ)かる.

basic
Added 2026.1.5 21:29 · Revised 2026.2.12 8:55
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