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How to Say ‘Things I don't understand’ in Japanese

わからないこと

wakara nai koto

[wah-KAH-rah nai koh-toh]

💬 Usage Tip: Put a verb in front of こと to make it "things that ~": やること "things to do".

Phrase Breakdown

わから

wakara

[wah-KAH-rah]

understand (negative stem)

Form of わかる used before ない to make 'not understand'.

Example

意味がわからない。

I don't understand the meaning.

ない

nai

[nai]

not; does not

Negative ending; with いか it forms 'doesn't go well.'

Example

仕事がうまくいかないです。

Work isn't going well.

こと

koto

[koh-toh]

thing; matter; (nominalizer)

Turns verbs/clauses into a “thing/matter.” In relationship talk: 「話したいこと」 = “something I want to talk about.”

Example

話したいことがある。

There’s something I want to talk about.

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