Translation and Meaning of: 分かる - wakaru

Etymology of 「分かる」 (wakaru)

The Japanese word 「分かる」, written in hiragana as わかる, and in romaji as wakaru, has a rich etymology that dates back to ancient times of the Japanese language. The character 「分」 (bun, wa, wakeru) is part of its composition, meaning to divide or separate, which already gives us a clue to its meaning as to understand or perceive. In the past, the idea of comprehension was seen as a way to "separate" or "divide" ideas or concepts into smaller and clearer parts.

Definition and Usage

The word 「分かる」 is quite versatile in modern Japanese. It is widely used to express understanding, perception, or recognition of something. It can be applied in various contexts, such as understanding a foreign language, recognizing someone's situation, or even perceiving internal feelings. It is common to see 「分かる」 in everyday conversations when someone wants to check if the other person understood what was said.

Variations and Connotations

One of the reasons why 「分かる」 is so interesting is its application in various nuances of meaning. While the basic meaning is "to understand," it can adapt to endless social and contextual situations. For example, by adding suffixes and particles, you can transform the word into more polite forms, such as 「分かります」 (wakarimasu), for a more formal speech, or use it in the negative form as 「分からない」 (wakaranai), which means "not to understand."

Historical Origin

Historically, it is believed that the origin of 「分かる」 is closely linked to the development of the Japanese language during the Heian period, where there was a strong influence from both Chinese characters and native Japanese origins. This term encomes a concept that transcends the simple act of understanding, representing an epiphany or moment of clarity, a fundamental part of the daily life of the Japanese people.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 理解する (rikai suru) - Understand
• 理解できる (rikai dekiru) - Being able to understand
• 理解することができる (rikai suru koto ga dekiru) - To be able to understand (in a more formal way)
• 理解できるようになる (rikai dekiru you ni naru) - Start to be able to understand
• 理解することができるようになる (rikai suru koto ga dekiru you ni naru) - Start to be able to understand (in a more formal way)
• 理解することができるようになった (rikai suru koto ga dekiru you ni natta) - To be able to understand (in a more formal way)
• 理解することができた (rikai suru koto ga dekita) - Were you able to understand (in a more formal way)?
• 理解できた (rikai dekita) - Was able to understand
• 理解できるようになった (rikai dekiru you ni natta) - To be able to understand
• 理解することができるようになってきた (rikai suru koto ga dekiru you ni natte kita) - Gradually becoming capable of understanding (in a more formal way)
• 理解することができるようになってきた (rikai suru koto ga dekiru you ni natte kita) - Gradually becoming able to understand