Knowing and remembering

Core words, Stage 1chunk 4 of 55Verbs: thinking and feeling

Lets you say you don't know, can't remember, got it wrong, or understand.

• shiranaidon't know; not know (someone)
• omoidasuremember, recall; be reminded of
• kanchigai suruget the wrong idea; mistake (one thing for another)
• rikai suruunderstand

Mix-ups Shiranai (no information) vs wakaranai (not sure); omoidasu (recall) vs oboete iru (still remember).

shiranai

Play

polite shirimasenPlay

don't know; not know (someone)

Means you have no information; for 'I'm not sure', wakaranai is softer.

The negative of shiru; 'I know' is shitte iru (shitteru), never shiru. Shiranai hito = a stranger.

casualPlay

sonna hito, shiranai yo.

I don't know anyone like that.

そんな人、知らないよ。

politePlay

sonna hito wa shirimasen.

I don't know anyone like that.

そんな人は知りません。

Written 知らない · しらない · 知りませんRank #669 in 3,030 TV dramas

omoidasu

Play

polite omoidashimasuPlay

remember, recall; be reminded of

Omoidasu is the moment it comes back; oboete iru is still having it in memory.

casualPlay

ano hito no namae, omoidasenai.

I can't remember that person's name.

あの人の名前、思い出せない。

politePlay

ano kata no namae ga omoidasemasen.

I can't remember that person's name.

あの方の名前が思い出せません。

Written 思い出す · おもいだす · 思い出しますRank #424 in 3,030 TV dramas

kanchigai suru

Play

polite kanchigai shimasuPlay

get the wrong idea; mistake (one thing for another)

Kanchigai shinaide = don't get the wrong idea. Machigai is a mistake you make; kanchigai is a wrong belief.

casualPlay

gomen, ashita da to kanchigai shiteta.

Sorry, I thought it was tomorrow.

ごめん、明日だと勘違いしてた。

politePlay

sumimasen, ashita da to kanchigai shite imashita.

Sorry, I thought it was tomorrow.

すみません、明日だと勘違いしていました。

Written 勘違いする · かんちがいする · 勘違いしますRank #1001 in 3,030 TV dramas

rikai suru

Play

polite rikai shimasuPlay

understand

A step more formal than wakaru; also being understanding toward someone.

Day to day, wakaru is the usual 'understand'.

casualPlay

oya ga zenzen rikai shite kurenai.

My parents just don't understand me.

親が全然理解してくれない。

politePlay

oya ga zenzen rikai shite kuremasen.

My parents just don't understand me.

親が全然理解してくれません。

Written 理解する · りかいする · 理解しますRank #943 in 3,030 TV dramas