Today, I was asked about the difference between these two words. So I think it may also help the people there who are trying to learn Japanese.
Do you know the difference between “分かる” and “分かっている” in Japanese? If you’re learning Japanese, you may have come across these two words before and wondered what the difference is between them. Here’s a brief explanation:
“分かる” is the basic form of the verb “to understand” in Japanese. It is used to indicate that you understand something in the present tense. For example, “今、彼の言っていることが分かる” (Ima, kare no itteiru koto ga wakaru) means “I understand what he is saying now.”
“分かっている” is the present progressive form of “分かる,” which means that the action of “understanding” is ongoing. It is used to indicate that you have already understood something and still understand it up to the present moment. For example, “私はこの問題が分かっている” (Watashi wa kono mondai ga wakatte iru) means “I have understood this problem and still understand it now.”
So, in summary, “分かる” is used to indicate present understanding, while “分かっている” is used to indicate ongoing or continuing understanding. I hope this explanation helps you better understand the difference between these two words!
Let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks for reading!
7 comments
I think this example can help us understand the difference.
例えば、”彼女は今日仕事が忙しいので、夜ご飯には遅くなるかもしれない。”という情報を考えてみましょう。
「分かる」という場合は、この情報を認識し理解していることを示しています。例えば、「彼女は今日仕事が忙しいので、夜ご飯には遅くなるかもしれない。」というメッセージを受け取って、理解した状態を表します。
一方、「分かってる」という場合は、この情報を熟知していることを意味します。例えば、「彼女はいつも仕事が忙しいので、夜ご飯は遅くなることがある」という知識や経験がある場合、そのことを忘れていない状態を表します。つまり、「分かってる」は、「分かる」よりも、その情報に関する実践的な知識や経験があることを表します。
Let me explain the difference between “分かる” and “分かっている” using the example of the sentence “She might be late for dinner tonight because she’s busy at work.”
When we say “分かる,” it means that we understand the information presented to us. For example, you receive the message that “She might be late for dinner tonight because she’s busy at work,” and you comprehend the message.
On the other hand, when we say “分かっている,” it indicates that we have a deep understanding or familiarity with the subject matter. For instance, if you know that “she is always busy at work, so it’s common for her to be late for dinner,” you have practical knowledge or experience with the circumstances at hand. Therefore, “wakatte iru” suggests that you have practical knowledge or experience with the subject matter, rather than simply understanding the information.
So, if I didn’t know the difference, but now I do after your explanation, I should say 分かる, right?
わかっている is the form i use when people babytalk me in japan for being a foreigner. Like if a coach driver tells everyone what time to be back and then stops me specifically on the way out of the bus. rather than わかった which is a neutral acknowledgement.
In other words:
分かる – Gotcha.
分かっている – I get it.
you can think of わかっている as something that happened in the past, and the effects are still ongoing. → “I already learned of this at some point in the past and I still know it.” the て form carries this meaning of completion, and いる gives the meaning of continuation.
分かる is what you use when you mean that you understand / know something.
分かってる is what you say when you want the other person to shut up.