Huwag Malito! Shirimasu vs Wakarimasu โ Japanese Quiz of the Day ๐
Executive Summary
Many Filipino learners of Japanese confuse shirimasu (็ฅใใพใ) and wakarimasu (ๅใใใพใ). Both are often translated as “I know,” but they function very differently in real conversation. This lesson uses a short quiz, clear grammar rules, and workplace scenarios so that you never mix them up again. At SAMURAI Japan Business Center, we turn confusing grammar points into confident, professional communication.
ใใฃใชใใณไบบๅญฆ็ฟ่ ใใใๆททๅใใใฎใใ็ฅใใพใใใจใๅใใใพใใใงใใใฉใกใใ โI knowโ ใจ่จณใใใพใใใๅฎ้ใฎไผ่ฉฑใงใฏไฝฟใๆนใๅคงใใ็ฐใชใใพใใใใฎใฌใในใณใงใฏใ็ญใใฏใคใบใปๆ็ขบใชๆๆณใซใผใซใป่ทๅ ดใงใฎๅฎไพใ้ใใฆใใใไบๅบฆใจๆททๅใใชใ็ฅ่ญใ่บซใซใคใใพใใSAMURAI Japan Business Center ใงใฏใใใใใ็ดใใใใๆๆณใใ่ชไฟกใใใใญใฎไผ่ฉฑๅใใซๅคใใฆใใใพใใ
Have you ever been asked โDo you know Manager Tanaka?โ and frozen, unsure whether to say shirimasu or wakarimasu? You are not alone. This is one of the most common stumbling blocks for Filipino beginners because both words map to the single English verb โto know.โ Today, we will solve this puzzle with a quiz, then break down the grammar so clearly that your Japanese will sound noticeably more natural in business and daily life.
ใ็ฐไธญ้จ้ทใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผใใจ่ใใใฆใใ็ฅใใพใใใจใๅใใใพใใใฎใฉใกใใไฝฟใในใใ่ฟทใฃใใใจใฏใใใพใใใ๏ผใใฃใชใใณไบบๅๅฟ่ ใๆใใคใพใใใใใใใคใณใใฎไธใคใงใใใฉใกใใ่ฑ่ชใงใฏ โto knowโ ใซใชใฃใฆใใพใใใใงใใไปๆฅใฏใฏใคใบๅฝขๅผใง่ฌใ่งฃใใใใฎๅพใๆๆณใไธๅฏงใซๆด็ใใพใใใใใใในใฟใผใใใฐใใใธใในใงใๆฅๅธธใงใใใใชใใฎๆฅๆฌ่ชใฏใใฃใจ่ช็ถใซใชใใพใใใ
๐ Japanese Quiz of the Day / ไปๆฅใฎๆฅๆฌ่ชใฏใคใบ
Try this short quiz first. Which sentence correctly says โI know Mr. Tanakaโ?
ใพใใฏใใกใใฎ็ญใใฏใคใบใซๆๆฆใใฆใฟใพใใใใใ็ฐไธญใใใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใซๅฝใใๆญฃใใๆใฏใฉใใงใใใ๏ผ
A) ็ฐไธญใใใ็ฅใใพใ (Tanaka-san o shirimasu)
B) ็ฐไธญใใใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใ (Tanaka-san o shitte imasu)
C) ็ฐไธญใใใๅใใใพใ (Tanaka-san ga wakarimasu)
โ The correct answer is B. Knowing a person is a continuing state in Japanese, so the te-form + imasu pattern is required: ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใ (shitte imasu). Option A (็ฅใใพใ) means โI will get to know,โ and option C (ๅใใใพใ) means โI understand,โ which cannot describe knowing a person.
โ ๆญฃ่งฃใฏ B ใงใใไบบใ็ฅใฃใฆใใใใจใฏๆฅๆฌ่ชใงใฏใ็ถ็ถ็ใช็ถๆ ใใจๆใใใใใใใฆๅฝข๏ผใใพใใใๅฟ ่ฆใซใชใใพใใใคใพใใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใงใใA ใฎใ็ฅใใพใใใฏใใใใใ็ฅใใใC ใฎใๅใใใพใใใฏใ็่งฃใใใใจใใๆๅณใชใฎใงใไบบ็ฉใฎ้ข่ญใ่กจใใใจใฏใงใใพใใใ
The Core Difference: ็ฅใ vs ๅใใ / ใ็ฅใใใจใๅใใใใฎๆ ธๅฟ็ใช้ใ
็ฅใ (shiru) describes the moment information enters your mind โ โto find outโ or โto get to know.โ To express the ongoing state of having that knowledge, Japanese uses ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใ (shitte imasu). This distinction is essential when talking about acquaintances, facts, and past experiences.
็ฅใใฏๆ ๅ ฑใ้ ญใซๅ ฅใใ็ฌ้ใใ่กจใใพใใใ็ฅใใใๅใใใใจใใไธ็ฌใฎ่ก็บใงใใใใฎ็ฅ่ญใๆใก็ถใใฆใใ็ถๆ ใ่กจใใซใฏใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใไฝฟใใพใใใใใฏ็ฅไบบใปไบๅฎใป็ต้จใซใคใใฆ่ฉฑใใจใใซๆฌ ใใใชใๅบๅฅใงใใ
ๅใใ (wakaru), on the other hand, means โto comprehendโ or โto understand.โ It expresses clarity of thought, not possession of information. The particle used is usually ใ (ga): ใๆฅๆฌ่ชใๅใใใพใใ (Nihongo ga wakarimasu โ I understand Japanese). Using wakarimasu about a person would suggest you understand their personality or words โ not that you simply know them.
ไธๆนใๅใใใฏใ็่งฃใใใใๆๆกใใใใจใใๆๅณใงใใๆ ๅ ฑใๆใฃใฆใใใใจใงใฏใชใใ้ ญใฎไธญใงใฏใชใขใซ็่งฃใใฆใใ็ถๆ ใ่กจใใพใใๅฉ่ฉใฏ้ๅธธใใใใไฝฟใใพใใไพ๏ผใๆฅๆฌ่ชใๅใใใพใใใไบบ็ฉใซใๅใใใพใใใไฝฟใใจใใใฎไบบใฎๆงๆ ผใ็บ่จๅ ๅฎนใ็่งฃใใฆใใใจใใๆๅณใซใชใใใ้ข่ญใใใใใจใใๆๅณใซใฏใชใใพใใใ
๐ก ใใญใฎใใณใ (Pro-Tip)
When meeting someone new, avoid saying shirimasu โ it sounds like โI will get to know you now,โ which is awkward. Instead, greet with ใใไผใใงใใฆๅฌใใใงใใ (O-ai dekite ureshii desu โ Nice to meet you). Later, when you remember them, use ใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ (shitte imasu).
ๅๅฏพ้ขใฎไบบใซใ็ฅใใพใใใจ่จใใจใใไปใใใใชใใ็ฅใใพใใใจใใไธ่ช็ถใช้ฟใใซใชใใพใใๅๅฏพ้ขใงใฏใใไผใใงใใฆๅฌใใใงใใใจๆจๆถใใๅพๆฅใใฎไบบใ่ฆใใฆใใๅ ด้ขใงใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใไฝฟใใพใใใใ
Grammar Rules at a Glance / ๆๆณใซใผใซใฎใพใจใ
Below is a compact reference of the four forms you will use most often. Notice how the particle and verb-ending pattern shift depending on meaning.
ใใไฝฟใ4ใคใฎๅฝขใใณใณใใฏใใซใพใจใใพใใใๆๅณใซใใฃใฆๅฉ่ฉใจ่ชๅฐพใฎใใฟใผใณใๅคใใ็นใซๆณจ็ฎใใฆใใ ใใใ
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning | Tagalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใ | shitte imasu | I know (person / fact) | Kilala / Alam ko |
| ็ฅใใพใ | shirimasu | I will get to know | Malalaman ko |
| ๅใใใพใ | wakarimasu | I understand | Naiintindihan ko |
| ็ฅใใพใใ | shirimasen | I don’t know (fact) | Hindi ko alam |
| ๅใใใพใใ | wakarimasen | I don’t understand | Hindi ko naiintindihan |
Common Mistakes Filipino Learners Make / ใใฃใชใใณไบบๅญฆ็ฟ่ ใใใใกใช้้ใ
Below are the most frequent slips we correct in class. Review them carefully โ each one is a small habit that, once fixed, dramatically improves how professional you sound.
ๆๆฅญใงๆใใใ่ฆใใใใคใพใใใๆใใพใใไธใคใฒใจใคใฏๅฐใใช็ใงใใใ็ดใใ ใใงใใใญใใใใใใใฃใจไธใใใพใใ
- Saying ใ็ฅใใพใใ about a person
This implies you are about to learn about them, not that you already know them. Always use ใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ for ongoing acquaintance or knowledge.
ไบบ็ฉใซใคใใฆใ็ฅใใพใใใไฝฟใใจใใใใใใ็ฅใใใจใใๆๅณใซใชใฃใฆใใพใใพใใใใงใซ้ข่ญใ็ฅ่ญใใใๅ ดๅใฏๅฟ ใใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใไฝฟใใพใใ
- Using ใๅใใใพใใ to mean โI know the nameโ
ๅใใ is about comprehension, not factual knowledge. For a name, address, or phone number, use ใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ.
ใๅใใใพใใใฏ็่งฃใซ้ขใใๅ่ฉใงใๆ ๅ ฑใจใใฆใฎ็ฅ่ญใซใฏไฝฟใใพใใใๅๅใปไฝๆใป้ป่ฉฑ็ชๅทใชใฉใฏใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใไฝฟใใพใใ
- Mixing up particles
ๅใใ takes ใ: ใๆๅณใๅใใใพใใ. ็ฅใ takes ใ: ใๅๅใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ. Keeping this pairing straight will eliminate many small errors.
ใๅใใใใฏใใใใใ็ฅใใใฏใใใใๅใใพใใใๆๅณใๅใใใพใใใๅๅใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใฎใใใซๅฉ่ฉใใปใใใง่ฆใใพใใใใ
Real-Life Scenario: Mariaโs First Day at Work / ๅฎไพ๏ผใใชใขใใใฎๅๅบ็คพ
Imagine Maria, a Filipino newcomer at a Japanese company in Osaka. On her first morning, her supervisor asks, ใ็ฐไธญ้จ้ทใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผใ (Tanaka buchou o shitte imasu ka? โ Do you know Department Manager Tanaka?). Maria has only heard his name in the onboarding email, so she answers precisely: ใใฏใใๅๅใฏ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใใไผใใใใใจใฏใใใพใใใ (Hai, namae wa shitte imasu ga, o-ai shita koto wa arimasen โ Yes, I know the name, but I have not met him). Her supervisor nods, impressed by her accurate phrasing.
ๅคง้ชใฎๆฅๆฌไผๆฅญใซๅๅบ็คพใใใใฃใชใใณๅบ่บซใฎใใชใขใใใๆณๅใใฆใฟใฆใใ ใใใๅๆฅใฎๆใไธๅธใใ็ฐไธญ้จ้ทใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผใใจๅฐใญใพใใใใชใขใใใฏๅ ฅ็คพใกใผใซใงๅๅใ ใ่ฆใฆใใใฎใงใๆญฃ็ขบใซใใ็ญใใพใใใใใฏใใๅๅใฏ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใใไผใใใใใจใฏใใใพใใใใไธๅธใฏใใฎ็็ขบใช่กจ็พใซๆๅฟใใฆใใชใใใพใใใ
Later that afternoon, a colleague explains a new workflow. When she feels unsure about one part, Maria says honestly, ใใใฟใพใใใใใใใใๅใใใพใใใ (Sumimasen, koko ga yoku wakarimasen โ Sorry, I do not quite understand this part). Her colleague patiently re-explains. Because Maria used ๅใใ for comprehension and ็ฅใ for factual knowledge, no one was confused, and she built trust quickly.
ใใฎๆฅใฎๅๅพใๅๅใๆฐใใๆฅญๅใใญใผใ่ชฌๆใใฆใใใพใใใไธ้จใใใ้ฃฒใฟ่พผใใชใใฃใใใชใขใใใฏใๆญฃ็ดใซใใใฟใพใใใใใใใใๅใใใพใใใใจไผใใพใใใๅๅใฏไธๅฏงใซ่ชฌๆใ็ดใใฆใใใพใใใ็่งฃใซใฏใๅใใใใๆ ๅ ฑใจใใฆใฎ็ฅ่ญใซใฏใ็ฅใใใๆญฃใใไฝฟใๅใใใใจใงใ่ชฐใๆททไนฑใใใไฟก้ ผใ็ด ๆฉใ็ฏใใใจใใงใใใฎใงใใ
The SAMURAI Japan Methodology / SAMURAI Japan ใฎๆๅฐๆณ
At SAMURAI Japan Business Center, we do not simply teach you that these two verbs โmean I know.โ Instead, we embed the distinction into realistic workplace role-plays: reporting to a manager, asking clarifying questions at a client meeting, and introducing yourself to a new team. Students receive immediate, structured feedback from instructors with corporate experience in Japan. This is the standard of training our partner companies rely on.
SAMURAI Japan Business Center ใงใฏใใใฉใกใใ โI knowโ ใงใใใง็ตใใใใพใใใไธๅธใธใฎๅ ฑๅใ้กงๅฎขไผ่ญฐใงใฎ็ขบ่ช่ณชๅใๆฐใใใใผใ ใธใฎ่ชๅทฑ็ดนไปใชใฉใๅฎ้ใฎ่ทๅ ดใทใผใณใๅ็พใใใญใผใซใใฌใคใฎไธญใงใใใฎๅบๅฅใๅพนๅบ็ใซไฝๅพใใใพใใๆฅๆฌใงใฎไผๆฅญ็ต้จใๆใค่ฌๅธซ้ฃใๅณๆใซใใฃใผใใใใฏใ่ฟใใใใใใๆๆบไผๆฅญใใไฟก้ ผใใใฆใใ็งใใกใฎใใฌใผใใณใฐๆฐดๆบใงใใ
To explore more practical Japanese that immediately applies to your career, we invite you to review our guide on 5 simple tips to start speaking Japanese today. And if you enjoy cultural context that makes grammar memorable, read Hatsuyume: 3 Lucky Symbols in Your First Dream โ it shows how cultural understanding accelerates language learning.
ใญใฃใชใขใซ็ด็ตใใๅฎ่ทต็ใชๆฅๆฌ่ชใใใใซๅบใใใๆนใฏใใไปๆฅใใ่ฉฑใใ5ใคใฎใณใใใฌใคใ ใใ่ฆงใใ ใใใใพใใๆๆณใ่จๆถใซๆฎใๆๅ็่ๆฏใซ่ๅณใใใใฐใๅๅคข๏ผ3ใคใฎ็ธ่ตท็ฉใฎ่จไบ ใใใใใใงใใๆๅ็่งฃใ่ชๅญฆใๅ ้ใใใๅฅฝไพใงใใ
Q&A (FAQ) / ใใใใ่ณชๅ
Q1: Why can’t I say ใ็ฅใใพใใ to mean โI knowโ? / ใชใใ็ฅใใพใใใง โI knowโ ใ่กจใใชใใฎใงใใ๏ผ
A: Because ใ็ฅใใพใใ refers to the moment of acquiring knowledge, not the state of possessing it. Japanese grammar uses the te-iru form (็ฅใฃใฆใใพใ) for ongoing states, just as it does with other state verbs. / ใ็ฅใใพใใใฏ็ฅ่ญใๅพใใ็ฌ้ใใๆใใ็ฅ่ญใใๆใฃใฆใใ็ถๆ ใใงใฏใใใพใใใๆฅๆฌ่ชใงใฏไปใฎ็ถๆ ๅ่ฉใจๅๆงใซใ็ถ็ถ็ถๆ ใซใฏใใฆๅฝข๏ผใใพใ๏ผ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใ๏ผใใๅฟ ่ฆใงใใ
Q2: What is the biggest difference between ใๅใใใพใใ and ใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ? / ใๅใใใพใใใจใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใฎๆๅคงใฎ้ใใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ
A: ใๅใใใพใใ is about comprehension (็่งฃ), while ใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ is about factual knowledge (ๆ ๅ ฑใจใใฆใฎ็ฅ่ญ). You can know a personโs name (็ฅใฃใฆใใพใ) without understanding their character (ๅใใใพใ). / ใๅใใใพใใใฏ็่งฃใ ใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใใฏๆ ๅ ฑใจใใฆใฎ็ฅ่ญใงใใไบบใฎๅๅใ็ฅใฃใฆใใฆใ๏ผ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใ๏ผใใใฎไบบใฎๆงๆ ผใ็่งฃใใฆใใ๏ผๅใใใพใ๏ผใจใฏ้ใใพใใใ
Q3: Is it rude to ask someone ใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผใ at a first meeting? / ๅๅฏพ้ขใงใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผใใจ่ใใฎใฏๅคฑ็คผใงใใ๏ผ
A: Not rude, but unusual. This question is normally used about a third person. In a first meeting, introduce yourself instead. If needed, ใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผใ is grammatically correct and polite. / ๅคฑ็คผใงใฏใใใพใใใใ้ๅธธใฏ็ฌฌไธ่ ใซใคใใฆๅฐใญใ่กจ็พใงใใๅๅฏพ้ขใงใฏ่ชๅทฑ็ดนไปใๅชๅ ใใพใใใฉใใใฆใๅฟ ่ฆใชๅ ดๅใฏใ็ฅใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผใใฏๆๆณ็ใซใไธๅฏงใซใๅ้กใใใพใใใ
Conclusion: Small Distinctions, Big Professional Impact / ใพใจใ๏ผๅฐใใชๅบๅฅใๅคงใใชใใญใฎๅฐ่ฑกใใคใใ
Mastering shirimasu versus wakarimasu is a small step with a large impact on how your Japanese is perceived in professional environments. Keep practicing these patterns in real sentences, not as isolated words. For learners who want more depth, our related article on cultural details that deepen your fluency is a great next read.
็ฅใใพใใจๅใใใพใใฎไฝฟใๅใใฏใๅฐใใชไธๆญฉใงใใใชใใใใใญใฎ็พๅ ดใงใใชใใฎๆฅๆฌ่ชใฎๅฐ่ฑกใๅคงใใๅทฆๅณใใพใใๅ่ชใจใใฆใงใฏใชใใๅฎ้ใฎๆใฎไธญใง็นฐใ่ฟใ็ทด็ฟใใฆใใ ใใใใใใซๆทฑใใใๆนใฏใ่ชๅญฆใจๆๅใ็ตใณใคใใใใกใใฎ่จไบ ใใใใใใงใใ
At SAMURAI Japan Business Center, we believe these grammar details are exactly what separates good communicators from great ones. Every lesson is built around real scenarios and rigorous feedback so that students can walk into any Japanese office with confidence. We are an educational training center committed to Language Training, Business Manners, and Professional Upskilling, and we are honored to support your journey toward a thriving career in Japan.
SAMURAI Japan Business Center ใฏใใใใใๆๆณใฎ็ดฐ้จใใใใ่ฏใไผใๆใใจใๅชใใไผใๆใใๅใใใจไฟกใใฆใใพใใใในใฆใฎใฌใในใณใฏๅฎ้ใฎๅ ด้ขใจๅณๅฏใชใใฃใผใใใใฏใ่ปธใซๆงๆใใใฆใใใใฉใฎใใใชๆฅๆฌใฎ่ทๅ ดใงใ่ชไฟกใๆใฃใฆ่จใใไบบๆใ่ฒๆใใพใใ็งใใกใฏ ่ชๅญฆใใฌใผใใณใฐใปใใธใในใใใผใปใใญใจใใฆใฎในใญใซใขใใ ใซๅ จๅใๆณจใๆ่ฒใใฌใผใใณใฐใปใณใฟใผใจใใฆใๆฅๆฌใงใฎใญใฃใชใขๆง็ฏใ็ฎๆใ็ใใใฎไธๆญฉใๅ จๅใงใตใใผใใใพใใ
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