Introduction
Learning Japanese involves mastering many verbs that seem similar but are used differently. Two important verbs you will encounter are “知る (shiru)” and “わかる (wakaru).” These words both relate to knowledge and understanding but are used in different contexts. Let’s explore how to use “Shiru” and “Wakaru” correctly.
知る (shiru)
“Shiru” means “to know.” You use it when you have knowledge or information about something. It does not involve thinking or understanding deeply; it’s simply about having the information.
Example of “shiru”:
- 私は彼の名前を知っています。 (Watashi wa kare no namae o shitte imasu.) – I know his name.
In this example, you have specific information about his name, so “shiru” is the right word to use.
わかる (wakaru)
“Wakaru” means “to understand.” You use it when you comprehend something or grasp the meaning. “Wakaru” involves thinking and understanding the concept or reason behind something.
Example of “wakaru”:
- 私は答えが分かりました。 (Watashi wa kotae ga wakarimashita.) – I understood the answer.
In this example, you understand the answer after thinking about it for some time, so “wakaru” is the right word to use.
Note
If you don’t know the answer to a question but should have thought about it, you should say わかりません (wakarimasen) instead of 知りません (shirimasen).
Conversation Example:
- A: デートはどうでしたか。 (Deeto wa dou deshita ka.) – How was the date?
- B: 彼女は来ませんでした。 (Kanojo wa kimasen deshita.) – She didn’t come.
- A: どうしてですか。 (Doushite desu ka.) – Why?
- B: わかりません。だから、一人で映画を見ました。 (Wakarimasen. Dakara, hitori de eiga o mimashita.) – I don’t understand (I don’t know why). So, I watched a movie alone.
In this context, using “wakarimasen” (I don’t understand) is more appropriate than “shirimasen” because it shows that you don’t know the reason, but you thought about why she didn’t come.
Conclusion
Understanding when to use “Shiru” and “Wakaru” is important for proper communication in Japanese. Remember, use “Shiru” (知る) when you know specific information without needing to think about it, and use “Wakaru” (分かる) when you understand or grasp the meaning of something after thinking about it.
