Today’s Japanese Tip: “‘Wakarimasu ka?’ Is Not ‘Do You Understand?’” Have you ever felt surprised in a Japanese class when the teacher asked: 「わかりますか？」 and it sounded to you like “Do you understand?” If so, you’re not alone. ⸻ In Japanese, 「わかりますか？」 is a very common and neutral expression. Teachers use it all the time. The important point is that the subject is unclear. It doesn’t strongly mean “Do you understand?” It feels closer to: “Is this understandable?” “Does this make sense?” So the focus is on the explanation, not on the listener. That’s why 「わかりますか？」 sounds soft and natural in Japanese. ⸻ ✨ Tip In Japanese, not saying the subject often makes a sentence gentler. So don’t translate word by word. Translate the feeling.