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🤔💡

How to Say ‘Understand’ in Japanese

理解しています

りかいしています

💬 Usage Tip: Comes from [理解する] (rikai suru), meaning 'to understand'.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Showing understanding maintains harmony (wa), a key aspect of Japanese social interactions.

Phrase Breakdown

理解りかい

Understand

To comprehend or grasp an idea.

Example

彼の言うことを理解しています。

I understand what he is saying.

してして

Doing

Part of the verb form indicating the action is ongoing.

Example

勉強しています。

I am studying.

いますいます

Am / is / are (present continuous)

Indicates an ongoing action/state in the present.

Example

彼は読んでいます。

He is reading.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

理解りかい

[rikai]

understanding

Noun used to express comprehension.

Example

ルールを理解しています。

I understand the rules.

しし

[shi]

do

Denotes performing an action.

Example

理解しています。

I am understanding.

てて

[te]

continued action

Part of verbs used to indicate an ongoing action.

Example

今、それをしています。

I’m doing that now.

いい

[i]

is

Indicates the continuity of the action.

Example

ここで待っています。

I am waiting here.

ますます

[masu]

suffix for ongoing actions

Describes continuing or ongoing actions.

Example

道を進んでいます。

I am proceeding along the road.

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