Japanese verb · u-verb · first needed at beginner level (A1)
わかる
wakaru
to understand
Usually written in kana. What you understand takes (ga): (Nihongo ga wakaru). It already means “can understand”, so it has no potential, volitional or passive.
Speed:
Present
現在形
I understand, I know. The thing understood takes (ga).
| plain | わかるwakaru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | わかりますwakarimasu | |
| plain negative | わからないwakaranai | |
| polite negative | わかりませんwakarimasen |
Past
過去形
(wakarimashita) also means “understood, certainly” when you agree to a request.
| plain | わかったwakatta | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | わかりましたwakarimashita | |
| plain negative | わからなかったwakaranakatta | |
| polite negative | わかりませんでしたwakarimasen deshita |
Te-form
て形
(wakatte imasu) means “I know, I'm aware”, and (wakatte kudasai) “please understand”.
| te-form | わかってwakatte | |
|---|---|---|
| -te imasu (doing now) | わかっていますwakatte imasu | |
| -te kudasai (please do) | わかってくださいwakatte kudasai |
Conditional
条件形
If: ～ば for general conditions, ～たら for “if” and “when, once”, ～なければ for “if not”.
| -ba | わかればwakareba | |
|---|---|---|
| -tara | わかったらwakattara | |
| -nakereba (if not) | わからなければwakaranakereba |
Examples
- 日本語が少しわかります。Nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu.I understand a little Japanese.
- すみません、わかりません。Sumimasen, wakarimasen.Sorry, I don't understand.
- わかった、すぐ行くよ。Wakatta, sugu iku yo.OK, I'll be right there.