What is the difference between "わかります", "分かる", "承知する", "心得える", "心得"?

"わかります" means "to understand", "分かる" means "to understand", "承知する" means "to understand; to accept; to be aware of", "心得える" means "to understand, to know, to be aware of", "心得" means "to understand, to be aware of, to be informed".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "わかります", "分かる", "承知する", "心得える", "心得"

All represent the core concept "understand", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

わかります

わかります (wakarimasu)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

分かる

わかる (wakaru)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

承知する

しょうちする (shouchi suru)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

心得える

こころえる (kokoroeru)

N2 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

心得

こころえる (kokoroeru)

N2 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "understand" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "わかります", "分かる", "承知する", "心得える", "心得" based on context.

わかります (わかります (wakarimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to understand" and is used when Polite form of わかる. Indicates comprehension. Often used with particle が..
分かる (わかる (wakaru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to understand" and is used when Intransitive verb. Often used with the particle が.
承知する (しょうちする (shouchi suru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to understand; to accept; to be aware of" and is used when A formal way to say 'to understand' or 'to acknowledge'. Often used in business or polite contexts when accepting a request or acknowledging information. Less casual than わかる.
心得える (こころえる (kokoroeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to understand, to know, to be aware of" and is used when Often used for understanding rules, manners, or proper procedures. Implies internalizing knowledge or having a good grasp of something..
心得 (こころえる (kokoroeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to understand, to be aware of, to be informed" and is used when Implies a deeper understanding or a grasp of proper etiquette/rules, often learned through experience or instruction. Not just superficial understanding..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "わかります"

英語がわかります。

I understand English.

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.

Context for "承知する"

ご提案の件、承知いたしました。

I have understood your proposal. (or: I acknowledge your proposal.)

Context for "心得える"

社会人として、基本的なマナーは心得ておくべきだ。

As a working adult, you should be aware of basic manners.

Context for "心得"

新しい職務について、すべてを心得ています。

I understand all about my new duties.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

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" is correct here because it represents "to understand" in the context: "I understand English.".