How do you say "I understand." in Japanese?

"I understand." in Japanese is "わかりました。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

🙋💡

How to Say ‘I understand.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "わかりました。" mean in English?

"わかりました。" means "I understand." in English. Usage tip: Very useful clinic phrase meaning “Got it.” If you want to sound extra careful: [わかりました。確認ですが…] (“I understand—just to confirm…”).

わかりました。

wakari mashi ta

[wah-kah-ree mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: Very useful clinic phrase meaning “Got it.” If you want to sound extra careful: [わかりました。確認ですが…] (“I understand—just to confirm…”).

🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese patients often say [わかりました] to show cooperation. Adding a short confirmation question is seen as responsible, not troublesome.

Phrase Breakdown

わかり

wakari

[wah-kah-ree]

understand (polite past)

Part of わかりました (“I understand”). わかり is the polite verb stem (ren’yōkei) used before ます/ました.

Example

毎日記録すること、わかりました。

I understand that I should record it every day.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite marker (masu-stem)

まし is part of ました (polite past). わかりました is a standard polite reply to a doctor meaning “I understand.”

Example

一か月後に来ることは、わかりました。

I understand that I should come in one month.

た

[tah]

past ending (ta)

た completes ました to make the polite past form. In conversation, わかりました is used as “Got it / Understood.”

Example

注意点はわかりました。

I understood the points to be careful about.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager