Sections
Wakaru (分かる): what it means in anime
分かる
わかる · wakaru · to understand; to know JLPT N5
Wakaru means "to understand" or "to know". 分かった is "got it", 分からない is "I don't know", and 分かってる is "I know, I know", usually said with irritation.
Where you hear it 40 of 42 series
Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.
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Re:Zero · 22 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
にしても 分かりやすいよなIt's easy to understand though
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Hunter x Hunter · 21 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
分かってんの？Don't you understand?
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Toradora! · 18 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
なんで 誰も 分かってくれないんだろWhy don't they understand?
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Tokyo Ghoul · 17 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
うん 分かるSee? You understand, right?
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Angel Beats! · 17 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
あの よく分からないんだけど…Um, I don't really understand what you-
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NANA · 15 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
そんなの… 分かってるもんThat's... I understand.
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Mob Psycho 100 · 14 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
分かったら さっさと仕事に来い！If you understand, hurry up and come to work!
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Erased · 13 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
訳 分かんねえI don't understand the translation
Also in: Toradora!, Spy x Family, Tokyo Ghoul, Angel Beats!, The Promised Neverland, No Game No Life, NANA, Mob Psycho 100, Soul Eater, Erased, Bleach, Violet Evergarden, Reincarnated as a Slime, Steins;Gate, One Piece, KonoSuba, Vinland Saga, Naruto, Assassination Classroom, Cowboy Bebop, Kaguya-sama, Psycho-Pass, Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Noragami, Chainsaw Man, Sword Art Online, Jujutsu Kaisen, One-Punch Man, Your Lie in April.
Usage and nuance
It is the most common verb in anime dialogue after する and なる, appearing in 40 of the 43 series we counted. The grammar surprises learners: the thing understood takes が, not を, so 日本語が分かる is "I understand Japanese".
Casual speech produces 分かんない (wakannai) for "dunno" and 分かったよ for a reluctant "fine, I get it". The rough male version 分かってんだよ is pure shounen.
Written 分かる, 判る or 解る depending on nuance; subtitles usually pick 分かる or just the kana わかる.
Hear 分かる in Re:Zero22 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account