How to Say ‘Understood.’ in Japanese
わかりました。
wakari mashi ta
[wah-kah-ree mah-shee tah]
💬 Usage Tip: [わかりました] means 'I understood' or 'got it.' It is polite and very useful in work, class, and service situations.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Using [わかりました] shows clear acknowledgment, which is appreciated in Japanese communication, especially in group settings.
Phrase Breakdown
わかり
wakari
[wah-kah-ree]
understood; got it
From わかる, meaning to understand. This stem is used in the polite past form.
説明がわかりました。
I understood the explanation.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite verb ending part
Part of the polite past ending ました.
はい、わかりました。
Yes, understood.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
Marks the polite past in ました.
聞いた。
I heard it.
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