分かる

• Reading: わかる
• Romaji: wakaru
• Kanji breakdown: 分 (bun/wa) — to divide, part, to understand
• Pronunciation: /ɰa.ka.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To understand; to comprehend; to grasp; to see; to get; to follow.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb with an r-stem. The subject of understanding takes the particle が (not を), because 分かる describes a state rather than an action performed on something. Often used in the negative 分からない (I don't understand) and the polite request 分かりますか (Do you understand?).

Examples

1. 日本語が少し分かります。 I understand a little Japanese.
2. すみません、分かりません。 I'm sorry, I don't understand.
3. やっと問題が分かった。 I finally understood the problem.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, education, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the verb 分ける (wakeru, to divide/separate). The idea is that understanding comes from being able to distinguish and separate concepts clearly.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal