JLPT N5 Vocabulary – The usage and rules of “分かる” and “知る”
Table of Contents
1. The usage and rules of “分かる” and “知る”
2. 分かる
3. 知る
4. Summary
5. Similar Articles
6. Comment
Q: I don’t quite understand the rules for using “分かる” and “知る.” For example, why is “知っていない” incorrect?
A: The usage of “分かる” and “知る” is influenced by tense. Let’s look at each in detail.
分かる (JLPT N5)
[Meaning]
The basic meaning is to clarify ambiguous matters based on past experiences or existing knowledge. This verb (in its base form) can refer to both the present and the future.
[Examples]
日本語が分かりますか。
Do you understand Japanese?
⇒ It means whether you can understand Japanese with your current knowledge.
大人になったら時間の大切が分かりますよ。
When you become an adult, you will understand the importance of time.
⇒ It means that through various experiences and growing up, you will be able to understand how important time is.
[分かる・分かった]
First, let’s consider the basic form (base form). “分かる・分からない” indicates the present or future.
[Example]
A：考えるのやめた！この問題、全然からないよ。（現在）
B：今やめるとずっと分からないよ。（未来）
A: I give up! I don’t understand this question at all. (Present)
B: If you give up now, you’ll never understand it. (Future)
“分かった” indicates a completed past action or the moment of realization in the present.
[Examples]
昔は数学がよく分かったのに、今は全然分からないよ。（過去/現在）
I used to understand math well, but now I don’t understand it at all. (Past/Present)
Q：ねえ、この問題、分かる？（現在）
A：んー．．．あ、分かった！（現在の瞬間）
Q: Hey, do you understand this problem? (Present)
A: Hmm… Oh, I got it! (Present moment)
[分かっている]
In everyday conversation, the expression “分かっている” actually exists. When using “分かる,” the speaker’s focus is on the present or the future. However, “分かっている” refers to a period from a certain point in the past to the present.
In other words, “分かっている” indicates a state of having already understood something well based on experiences or knowledge gained at a certain point in the past. It compares the current situation with that experience or knowledge.
[Examples]
(The police have done a lot of investigation on the criminal and are now talking to them)
警察：もう本当のことは分かっているから、ぜんぶ話しなさい。
Police: We already know the truth, so tell us everything.
⇒ The police have done a lot of investigation before talking to the criminal.
A：田中さんはいい社員ですね。
B：彼は仕事のことだけではなく、お客様のこともよく分かっているよ。
A: Mr. Tanaka is a good employee, isn’t he?
B: He understands not only the work but also the customers well.
⇒ Mr. Tanaka has experience from the past to the present and has knowledge about the customers.
(Seeing an employee who keeps making mistakes)
全然仕事を分かっていないようですね。もう一度、マニュアルを見てください。
It seems you don’t understand the work at all. Please review the manual again.
⇒ From the employee’s continuous failures, it means he/she have neither gained experience nor knowledge from the past to the present.
So, why don’t we use “分かっている?” right away?
In a situation like the third example, it is not unnatural for the speaker to ask a question after observing or hearing about someone’s state over time. However, at the time of asking the question, the speaker cannot fully understand the other person’s state.
Therefore, the speaker’s focus is on the present state and uses “分かる?”. Similarly, the response is also based on the present state, so “分かる?” is used.
[Example]
A：ねえ、この問題が分かる？
B：うん、分かるよ。
A: Hey, do you understand this problem?
B: Yes, I do.
知る (JLPT N5)
[Meaning]
The basic meaning is to receive specific information or knowledge. It also represents the change from a state of not having knowledge to acquiring it by hearing from others or researching on your own. This verb (in its base form) indicates the future, but in its negative form, it indicates the present.
[Examples]
いつかこの話を知ることになるでしょう。
You will learn about this story someday.
⇒ It means you might receive information about this story in the future.
魚が好きだからもっと魚の種類を知りたい！
I like fish, so I want to learn more about different kinds of fish!
⇒ It means you want to research fish someday and gain that knowledge.
田中さんという人を知りません。
I don’t know a person named Tanaka.
⇒ It means you currently don’t have any information about Mr. Tanaka.
[知る＆知った]
“知る” is a verb that indicates the future. “知った” indicates only the past. “知らない” indicates the present and the future.
[Example]
わたしは田中さんを知りません。（現在）
I don’t know Mr.Tanaka. (Present)
姉が結婚することを先週りました。（過去）
I found out my sister was getting married last week. (Past)
この秘密をいつか知るでしょう。（未来）
You will learn this secret someday. (Future)
まだ何も知らなくてもいいよ。（未来）
It’s okay if you don’t know anything yet. (Future)
[知った＆知っている]
“知っている” indicates a state where something that was “known” at a certain point in the past continues to be “known” up to the present. “知った” refers only to a specific point in the past, so when asking someone if they have information or knowledge, you use “知っている?” to indicate the period from the past to the present.
[Example]
A：田中さんの電話番号いる？
B：うん、知っているよ。
A: Do you know Mr. Tanaka’s phone number?
B: Yes, I do.
[知らない＆知っていない？]
“知る” means you must have acquired information or knowledge at a certain point in the past. Therefore, if you have not acquired the information or knowledge at that point in the past, it has not become “知った” → “知っている” (state). Consequently, you cannot say “知っていない” (not knowing). Instead, conveying information or knowledge becomes a matter of the present, thus you say “知らない”.
Summary
[分かる]
- “分かる・分からない” indicates the present or future.
- “分かった” indicates a completed past action or the moment of realization in the present.
- “分かっている・分かっていない” reflects a state of understanding something well based on past experiences or acquired knowledge, and relates it to the present.
[知る]
- “知る” indicates the future.
- “知った” indicates only the past.
- “知らない” indicates the present or future.
- “知る” refers to acquiring information or knowledge at a certain point in the past, and the state of having that knowledge continues to the present, which is expressed as “知っている.”
- If the information or knowledge was not acquired in the past, it has not become a “state,” so it cannot be expressed as “知っていない.”
