Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "わかります" vs "相談する"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
わかります
わかります (wakarimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
相談する
そうだんする (soudan suru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both わかります and 相談する are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
わかります (わかります (wakarimasu)) represents "to understand" (Level: N5) and typically represents Polite form of わかる. Indicates comprehension. Often used with particle が..
On the other hand, 相談する (そうだんする (soudan suru)) translates to "to consult, to discuss" (Level: N4) and is used for A する-verb. Used when seeking advice or discussing a problem with someone. Often used with particle 「に」 or 「と」.. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "わかります"
英語がわかります。
I understand English.
Bilingual Sentence for "相談する"
何か困ったことがあれば、いつでも私に相談してください。
If you have any problems, please consult me anytime.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "英語が ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I understand English.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "わかります" fits here because it represents "to understand" in the context: "I understand English.".