How to say "comprehend" in Japanese

• わかるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe everyday word for understanding: comprehending what someone says, what a word means, why something happened, or how someone feels. It also covers 'grasp' and 'see', and is usually written in kana alone.
  「博ひろし、君きみの気持きもちは分わかるよ」とマイクが言いいます。↗

  "I understand how you feel, Hiroshi," says Mike.
• 得るえるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbAt bottom this verb means to obtain, gain, or acquire something; its 'understand, comprehend' sense is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want for comprehend — reach for わかる instead.
• 悟るさとるJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers comprehend as 'realize': grasping a truth — a danger, someone's real intentions — through your own insight rather than explanation. It also carries the nuance of spiritual awakening.
  彼かれはドイツ語どいつごで自分じぶんの言いいたいことを伝つたえるのは難むずかしいと悟さとった。↗

  He found it difficult to make himself understood in German.

Use 「わかる」 for ordinary understanding of what something means or why it happens, 「悟る」 for comprehending something through insight or realization, and treat 「得る」 as 'obtain' — its comprehend sense is marginal.

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

• わかるto understand
• 解すげすto understand
• 頭に入るあたまにはいるto comprehend
• 計り知るはかりしるto conjecture
• 解せるげせるto understand
• 知るしるto understand
• 得るえるto understand
• つかむto understand
• 悟るさとるto understand
• 押さえるおさえるto grasp (a point)