Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "しります" vs "決める"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
しります
しります (shirimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
決める
きめる (kimeru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both しります and 決める are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
しります (しります (shirimasu)) represents "to know" (Level: N5) and typically represents The polite form of 知る.
On the other hand, 決める (きめる (kimeru)) translates to "to decide" (Level: N4) and is used for Transitive verb. Used for making a decision, setting a plan, or determining something. Can also mean to fix or settle.. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "しります"
彼の名前をよくしりません。
I don't know his name well.
Bilingual Sentence for "決める"
来週の旅行の予定を決めました。
I decided on the travel plans for next week.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼の名前をよくしりません。" (Meaning: "I don't know his name well.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "しります" fits here because it represents "to know" in the context: "I don't know his name well.".