What is the difference between "わかる" and "分かる"?

"わかる" means "to understand, to know" (N5), whereas "分かる" represents "to understand" (N5).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "わかる (wakaru)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

わかる (wakaru)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

わかる (wakaru)

N5 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "わかる (wakaru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

わかる (Level: N5): Translates to "to understand, to know" and is used when Intransitive verb. Often used with the particle 「が.
分かる (Level: N5): Maps to "to understand" and carries the nuance of Intransitive verb. Often used with the particle が.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "わかる"

日本語がわかりますか。

Do you understand Japanese?

Bilingual Context for "分かる"

先生の話がよく分かりました。

I understood the teacher's talk well.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "日本語がわかりますか。" (Meaning: "Do you understand Japanese?")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "わかる" is used for "to understand, to know" in the context: "Do you understand Japanese?".