How to say "understanding" in Japanese

• 理解りかいJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe default word for understanding in the sense of comprehending a meaning, explanation, or another person's feelings; it also covers understanding as sympathy or appreciation.
  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.
• 把握はあくJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbUnderstanding in the sense of getting a firm grasp of a situation, facts, or the state of things; it emphasizes seizing the whole picture rather than sympathetic or deep comprehension.
  そのスピーチの要点ようてんは把握はあくできた。↗

  I was able to grasp the main points of the speech.
• 了解りょうかいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbMostly used for acknowledging or accepting what someone says ('roger, understood'), or for consent and agreement; rarely the word for deep understanding of a subject.
  彼かれはゆっくりうなずいて了解りょうかいの意いを示しめした。↗

  He nodded slowly in comprehension.
• 了承りょうしょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbUnderstanding in the sense of formal acknowledgement or approval of a request or proposal, typically in business or official contexts; not used for comprehension of meaning.
  この件けんについてのあなたのお求もとめを了承りょうしょうします。↗

  Your request of this matter has been accepted.
• 悟りさとりCommon
  nounUnderstanding as spiritual insight or enlightenment, especially in Buddhist contexts; for everyday comprehension this is seldom the word you want.

Use 理解 for general understanding or comprehension, 把握 for grasping a situation, 了解 and 了承 for acknowledging or agreeing to something, and 「悟り」 for spiritual enlightenment.

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

• 理解りかいunderstanding
• 把握はあくgrasp (of the situation, meaning, etc.)
• 了解りょうかいcomprehension
• 了承りょうしょうacknowledgement
• 悟りさとりcomprehension
• 合点がてんconsent
• 心得こころえknowledge
• 折り合いおりあいagreement (e.g. business, dispute)
• 会得えとくunderstanding
• 分かりわかりunderstanding
• 申し合わせもうしあわせmutual agreement
• 認識にんしきrecognition
• 解明かいめいelucidation
• 思いやりおもいやりconsideration
• 物分りものわかりunderstanding (of people's circumstances and feelings)
• アンダースタンドunderstanding
• 領得りょうとくunderstanding
• 領略りょうりゃくunderstanding
• ノウknow
• 諒りょうfact
• 得心とくしんconsenting to
• 悟性ごせいwisdom
• ご了承ごりょうしょうacknowledgement
• 了知りょうちknowing
• 拝承はいしょうhearing
• 了解事項りょうかいじこうagreed-upon item
• 理解度りかいどcomprehension
• 理会りかいbecoming aware
• 覚知かくちperception
• 腹落ちはらおちbeing satisfied
• 納得感なっとくかん(feeling of) satisfaction (with an explanation, decision, arrangement, etc.)
• 自己移入じこいにゅうempathy
• 捉え方とらえかたinterpretation
• わかりみagreement (with something someone has said)
• 窺知きちinference
• 物分かりの良いものわかりのいいsensible
• 物分かりが良いものわかりがいいsensible
• 疎通そつう(mutual) understanding
• 理解力りかいりょく(power of) understanding
• 納得なっとくunderstanding
• 粋いきunderstanding
• 通つうunderstanding (esp. of male-female relations)
• 頭脳ずのうintellect
• 通じつうじunderstanding (of another's thoughts, feelings, etc.)
• 協商きょうしょうentente
• 自得じとくunderstanding (on one's own)
• 粋すいconsiderate
• 飲み込みのみこみunderstanding
• 大覚だいかくunderstanding
• 汲み取りくみとりunderstanding
• 捕捉ほそくapprehension
• わきまえknowledge
• 通りとおりunderstanding