Free Japanese Quiz for Beginners
“Shiri-masu” and “Wakari-masu” both seem similar, but they have distinct meanings in Japanese. One is about getting information, and the other is about understanding the logic or content. Let’s look at the difference and practice with the audio!
“しります” and “わかります” have similar meanings, but their usage is a bit different. Let’s discover the differences together!
しります
このひとを しっていますか？
kono hito [o] shitte-imasuka?
( Do you know this person? )
かのじょが けっこん することを しっていますか？
kanojo [ga] kekkon suru-koto [o] shitte-imasuka?
( Do you know she is getting married? )
kanojo [ga] kekkon suru-koto [o] shitte-imasuka?
( Do you know she is getting married? )
すずきさんの メールアドレスを しっています。
suzuki-san [no] mēruadoresu [o] shitte-imasu.
( I know Ms.Suzuki’s mail address. )
suzuki-san [no] mēruadoresu [o] shitte-imasu.
( I know Ms.Suzuki’s mail address. )
- The negative form is “しりません”. Please be careful that “しっていません” is not proper.
わたしは このひとを しりません。
watashi [wa] kono hito [o] shiri-masen.
( I don’t know this person. )
watashi [wa] kono hito [o] shiri-masen.
( I don’t know this person. )
- “しります” is “transitive verb”, so it needs an “object” with a particle “を“.
わたしは 10ねんまえから、たなかさんを しっています。
watashi [wa] jū-nen-mae [kara], tanaka-san [o] shitte-imasu.
( I know Mr.Tanaka for 10 years. )
watashi [wa] jū-nen-mae [kara], tanaka-san [o] shitte-imasu.
( I know Mr.Tanaka for 10 years. )
わかります
これが だれか わかりますか？
kore [ga] dare-ka wakari-masuka?
( Do you know who this is? )
わたしは かんじが わかります。
watashi [wa] kanji [ga] wakari-masu.
( I understand Kanji. )
watashi [wa] kanji [ga] wakari-masu.
( I understand Kanji. )
- The negative expression is “わかりません”.
この ことばの いみが わかりません。
kono kotoba [no] imi [ga] wakari-masen.
( I don’t know a meaning of this word. )
kono kotoba [no] imi [ga] wakari-masen.
( I don’t know a meaning of this word. )
- “わかります” is “intransitive verb”, and an “object” is marked by a particle “が“.
かれの きもちが わかりません。
kare [no] kimochi [ga] wakari-masen.
( I don’t know his feeling. )
kare [no] kimochi [ga] wakari-masen.
( I don’t know his feeling. )
I hope this lesson helps your Japanese journey! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. ▷