わかる

From Old Japanese. Derived as the passive or intransitive conjugation of Old Japanese root verb 分く (waku, “to separate, to break into pieces; to be separable or distinguishable”). Compare transitive 分(わ)ける (wakeru).

As the passive or spontaneous conjugation of waku, the verb wakaru could be translated more directly as something like "it comes apart [for me / he / she / etc.]", roughly analogous to English "I can see how it comes apart" → "I can see how it is put together".

• (Tokyo) わかる [wàkáꜜrù] (Nakadaka – [2])^[1][2]
• IPA^(key): [β̞a̠ka̠ɾɯ̟]

わかる • (wakaru) intransitive godan (stem わかり (wakari), past わかった (wakatta))

1. 分かる, 解る: to be understandable, to understand

   はい、分(わ)かりました。

   Hai, wakarimashita.

   Yes. I understood.

2. 分かる: to tell (one thing from another), to distinguish
3. 分かる, 判る: to be recognized, to be realized
   • 2011, Barack Obama, 中東と北アフリカに関するバラク・オバマの演説, translation of "Remarks by the President on the Middle East and North Africa":

     これがどれほど困(こん)難(なん)であるかは判(わか)っている。

     Kore ga dore hodo konnan de aru ka wa wakatte iru.

     I recognize how hard this will be.

4. 分かる: to become known, to turn out

   分(わ)かった！

   Wakatta!

   I've got it! / I know!

In recent usage, this term may be more commonly spelt in hiragana.

The Japanese verb wakaru shows characteristics that are similar to verbs in potential form, and like such verbs, the target of "understanding" is commonly marked by the particle が (ga). However, just like with other verbs in potential form, it is not uncommon to see it used with the particle を (o) as well. This is more acceptable in relative clauses or longer and more complicated sentences.

Just like with other potential verbs, the agent of wakaru can also be marked not only by が (ga), but also with the particle に (ni) or a topic marker. It is possible in some sentences to have a "double が (ga)" situation where が (ga) marks both the agent of the action and the target of the understanding.

• 私はそれが分かる (correct)
• 私にはそれが分かる (correct)
• 私はそれを分かる (slightly unnatural)
• 私がそれを分かるはずがない (correct)
• 複(ふく)雑(ざつ)でも、（私(わたし)に）この事(じ)情(じょう)が分(わ)かる。

  Fukuzatsu de mo, (watashi ni) kono jijō ga wakaru.

  Although it's complicated, I can understand this situation.

Due to this quirk of が (ga) and を (o) targets of wakaru, it is often considered both transitive and intransitive, depending on the perspective of the speaker. This is because the usage of wakaru with を (o) closely resembles the related verb 理解する (rikaisuru, “to understand”) which presents clear transitive characteristics.

Also, compare the difference in usage with another purely transitive verb like 知る (shiru, “to know”).

• IPA^(key): [β̞a̠ka̠ɾɯ̟]

わかる • (wakaru) ^†nidan

1. Classical Japanese form of わかれる (wakareru): to split, to fork, to branch off

• 分(わ)かれる (wakareru)
• 別(わか)れる (wakareru)

• 分(わ)ける (wakeru)