わかりません

ja
en
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Translating...
I don't understand, I don't know
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/wakarimasen/
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It is a polite way to say you lack understanding or information about something, and it can serve as a neutral response when you have no clue.

Examples

  • 日本語がわかりません
    I don't understand Japanese.
  • どういう意味かわかりません
    I don't get what it means.
  • この説明はわかりません
    I don't understand this explanation.
  • すみません、わかりません
    Sorry, I don't understand.
  • 質問が多すぎて、わかりません
    There are too many questions, I don't understand.

Similar words

見当がつきません
理解不足です
答えが分かりません
理解できません
分かりません
把握できません

Meanings

Usage

Use わかりません in formal situations when you cannot grasp the meaning of what is said or when you simply have no information.

Common mistakes

Dropping the polite ending and saying わかりない sounds ungrammatical.

Etymology

From the verb わかる ‘to understand’ plus the polite negative ません.

FAQ

What does わかりません mean?

わかりません means “I don’t understand” or “I don’t know” in a polite way.

When should I use わかりません instead of 知りません?

Use わかりません when you lack understanding of the content; 知りません is used for lacking factual knowledge.

Is わかりません appropriate in casual conversation?

In casual speech you would usually say わからない; わかりません sounds formal.

How do I form the negative polite of わかる?

Replace the ます form わかります with its negative わかりません.

Can わかりません be used to refuse answering a question?

It can convey lack of knowledge, but for a refusal you might choose a different expression.

What particle do I need with わかりません?

わかりません typically follows a clause, e.g., 日本語がわかりません; no extra particle is required.

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