Wakarimashita: When “I Understand” Doesn’t Mean They Do
Why hearing “wakarimashita” doesn’t always mean everything is clear
You hear it all the time but does it mean what it says?
You said:
“Wakarimashita!”
“Got it!”
“I understand!”
And you thought everything was good to go.
But in Japanese, that might not actually be the case.
Why it’s tricky
In English, “I understand” often means two things at once:
I heard what you said
I processed it and truly grasp it
But in Japanese, 「分（わ）かりました」 sometimes only means the first part.
It acknowledges receipt of the message — not necessarily full comprehension.
The social role of “wakarimashita”
In many situations, especially formal or hierarchical ones,
「分かりました」 works more like a signal:
“Message received. Let’s move forward.”
This is especially true in settings where:
Politeness takes priority
Saving face is important
Challenging or asking questions might feel disruptive
In other words, saying 「分かりました」 may not reflect confidence or clarity but rather a desire to show cooperation or avoid slowing things down.
What it can actually mean
Let’s look at some real examples:
📚 A teacher explains a difficult grammar point.
The student replies:
「分かりました。」
→ But later, the student misuses it or forgets the rule completely.
🧑💼 A boss gives detailed instructions.
The employee says:
「はい、分かりました。」
→ But delivers something different or asks again later in private.
In both cases, the listener wasn’t trying to lie.
They were trying to show respect, keep things smooth, and avoid open confusion.
Why this matters: understanding is often shown, not said
In Japanese culture, real comprehension is often expected to appear through action, not verbal confirmation.
「分かりました」 is often just the start of understanding, not the confirmation.
And yet, many Japanese learners interpret it as a full green light and then get surprised when things fall apart later.
So what can you say instead?
If you really do understand, and want to make it clear:
「なるほど。」 (I see now.)
「理解（りかい）できました。」 (I’ve grasped it.)
「大丈夫です、やってみます。」 (I’m good, I’ll try it.)
If you’re still unsure:
「まだちょっと分かりません。」 (I’m still not sure.)
「もう少し詳（くわ）しく教えてもらえますか？」 (Could you explain a bit more?)
「具体的（ぐたいてき）にはどうすればいいですか？」 (What exactly should I do?)
These expressions show that you’re thinking and that you care about getting it right.
🧾 Takeaway
「分かりました」 is polite, familiar, and fast.
But don’t assume it always equals deep understanding.
In Japan, harmony sometimes matters more than clarity.
So pay attention not just to the words, but what comes after.
That’s where real understanding shows up.