了解です
Meaning: A quick 'understood' or 'roger that,' widely used in workplace and casual texting to confirm receipt of information.
了解です is a standard acknowledgment in Japanese texting and workplace chat. While 了解 alone can sound curt, adding です softens it just enough for most situations. However, there's an ongoing debate about whether 了解 is appropriate to use with superiors (some manners guides say use 承知しました instead), though in practice most people use it freely in chat apps like Slack and LINE.
Examples
- 明日10時集合ね。」「了解です！ 明天10点集合哦。''了解です！«Mañana quedamos a las 10, ¿vale?» «¡Entendido!»내일 10시 집합이야.' '료카이데스!
- 了解です、すぐ対応します。 了解です，马上处理。Recibido, lo gestiono ahora mismo.료카이데스, 바로 대응하겠습니다.
- 了解です〜、ありがとうございます。 了解です～，谢谢您。Entendido, muchas gracias.료카이데스~, 감사합니다.
Pronunciation
/ɾʲoː.ka.i de.sɯ/
Usage Guide
Context: texting, workplace chat, LINE, email
Tone: businesslike, efficient
✓ Do Say
- 了解です、15時までに提出します (Understood, I'll submit it by 3 PM)了解です、15時までに提出します（收到，我会在下午3点前提交）了解です、15時までに提出します (Entendido, lo entrego antes de las 15:00)료카이데스, 15시까지 제출하겠습니다 (알겠습니다, 오후 3시까지 제출할게요)
- 了解です！準備しておきます (Roger that! I'll get it ready)了解です！準備しておきます（明白了！我会准备好的）了解です！準備しておきます (¡Recibido! Lo dejo preparado)료카이데스! 준비해 놓겠습니다 (확인했습니다! 준비해 둘게요)
✗ Don't Say
- 厳格な上司への返信では「承知しました」が無難 (For strictly hierarchical bosses, 承知しました is safer — some consider 了解 to be peer-level language)对等级观念很强的上司回复时，用「承知しました」更保险（——有些人认为了解属于同辈之间用的语言）厳格な上司への返信では「承知しました」が無難 (Con jefes estrictos sobre la jerarquía, 承知しました es más seguro — algunos consideran que 了解 es lenguaje entre iguales)엄격한 상사에게 답할 때는 '쇼우치시마시타(承知しました)'가 무난하다 (일부에서는 료카이를 동급 표현으로 간주한다)
Common Mistakes
- Using 了解 without です to superiors, which sounds too blunt
- Not knowing that some Japanese business etiquette guides consider 了解 inappropriate for use with superiors
Origin & History
了解 (ryoukai) means 'comprehension/understanding' and has been used in Japanese communication for a long time. The casual texting form 了解です became ubiquitous with the rise of workplace messaging apps. The abbreviation りょ (ryo) or り (ri) are even more casual variants.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s workplace messaging culture
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. The debate over 了解 vs. 承知 for superiors is well-known but not universally followed.
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