理解(りかい)

りかい
noun
understanding, comprehension
1. understanding, comprehension
The ability to grasp the meaning, nature, or significance of something.
理解(りかい)できますか。
Can you understand?
この問題(もんだい)の理解(りかい)が深(ふか)まった。
My understanding of this problem deepened.
先生(せんせい)の説明(せつめい)で理解(りかい)できた。
I was able to understand thanks to the teacher's explanation.
彼(かれ)の話(はなし)は難(むずか)しくて理解(りかい)できなかった。
His talk was difficult and I couldn't understand it.
日本(にほん)の文化(ぶんか)を理解(りかい)するには、長(なが)い時間(じかん)がかかる。
It takes a long time to understand Japanese culture.
2. sympathy, appreciation
A sympathetic awareness of another's situation or feelings.
理解(りかい)のある人(ひと)だ。
She's an understanding person.
理解(りかい)のある = understanding, sympathetic
親(おや)の理解(りかい)を得(え)たい。
I want to gain my parents' understanding.
上司(じょうし)は私(わたし)の事情(じじょう)を理解(りかい)してくれた。
My boss was understanding of my situation.
ご理解(りかい)とご協力(きょうりょく)をお願(ねが)いします。
We ask for your understanding and cooperation.
Polite request commonly used in announcements
彼(かれ)は家族(かぞく)の理解(りかい)があったからこそ、夢(ゆめ)を追(お)い続(つづ)けることができた。
It was precisely because he had his family's understanding that he was able to keep pursuing his dream.
〜からこそ = precisely because

USAGE: 理解(りかい) can refer to intellectual understanding or to sympathetic appreciation of someone's situation.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 理解(りかい)する (to understand)
  • 理解(りかい)を深(ふか)める (to deepen understanding)
  • 理解(りかい)を得(え)る (to gain understanding/approval)
  • 理解(りかい)のある (understanding, sympathetic)
  • ご理解(りかい)ください (please understand - polite)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 分(わ)かる - to understand (casual verb)
  • 把握(はあく) - grasp, understanding (formal)
  • 納得(なっとく) - acceptance, being convinced
core
Added 2026.1.13 1:08 · Revised 2026.3.2 8:29
03500/03674_rikai