How to say "appreciation" in Japanese

• 理解りかいJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers appreciation in the sense of understanding: a grasp of something's meaning, significance or difficulty. Its core senses are understanding and comprehension, so use it when 'appreciation' means full or sympathetic understanding.
  わたしはあなたの言いうことが理解りかいできる。↗

  I can understand what you are saying.
• 感謝かんしゃJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers appreciation as gratitude: thankfulness for kindness, help or a favor. When English 'appreciation' means thanks — as in 'a token of my appreciation' — this is the word.
  ご協力きょうりょくに感謝かんしゃします。↗

  I appreciate your cooperation.
• 鑑賞かんしょうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers aesthetic appreciation: contemplating and savoring the artistic qualities of art, music, poetry and similar works. When 'appreciation' means this kind of informed enjoyment of a work, this is the word.
  よい音楽おんがくを鑑賞かんしょうすることはそれほど難むずかしいことではない。↗

  It is not so difficult to appreciate good music.
• 賞味しょうみCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbIts 'appreciation' is relish or gusto: taking keen pleasure in savoring something. For the abstract senses of 'appreciation' — gratitude, understanding, aesthetic judgment — it is seldom the word you want.
  来客らいきゃく達たちは彼かれの奥おくさんの料理りょうりを十分じゅうぶん賞味しょうみした。↗

  All the guests did justice to his wife's cooking.
• 観賞かんしょうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers appreciation as pleasurable viewing: watching or looking at something for enjoyment and admiring it. Homophonous with 鑑賞, which is appreciation of art, music and poetry; this one is viewing for pleasure.
  手前てまえのガラス張ばりの建物たてものは薔薇ばら園えんなんです。温室おんしつになっていて、いつも薔薇ばらを観賞かんしょうできるようになってるんですよ。↗

  The glass fronted building before you is the rose garden. It's a greenhouse so you will always be able to appreciate the roses.

Choose 感謝 for appreciation as gratitude, 理解 for appreciation as understanding, 鑑賞 for aesthetic appreciation of art, music or poetry, 観賞 for pleasurable viewing, and 賞味 for relish or gusto.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 理解りかいunderstanding
• 感謝かんしゃthanks
• 鑑賞かんしょうappreciation (of art, music, poetry, etc.)
• 賞味しょうみrelish
• 観賞かんしょうadmiration
• 騰貴とうきrise (in price or value)
• 会得えとくunderstanding
• 賞玩しょうがんappreciation
• 感得かんとく(profound) realization
• 了知りょうちknowing
• 賞美しょうびadmiration
• 評価ひょうかappreciation
• 咀嚼そしゃくdigestion (e.g. of words)
• 玩味がんみappreciation