View topic - 日本語が分かりますか vs 日本語を分かりますか
「日本語が分かりますか」 or 「日本語を分かりますか」 ?
While as far as I know が is the proper one, and the translators and google seem to agree, I can't really explain why and was hoping someone here could enlighten all of us as to why there does appear to be some usage of the を form (and is it correct?).
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I can't comment on を actually being used in certain circumstances because my knowledge is too limited but hopefully this helps to clear up why we use が
Did some more looking in a book of mine, and it was as I expected but didn't want to write without knowing for sure
わかる normally takes が to indicate the object of comprehension, HOWEVER it must take を when "non-spontaneous comprehension" is involved, as in causative sentences or sentences where the speaker makes a conscious effort to understand something.
Examples listed are as follows.
It is hard to make a small child comprehend the death of a parent.
Dustin does not try to understand Phreadom's feelings.
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Instead they say 「日本語が分かりますか。」 (Understand Japanese?)
As we already know, が is used because we are referring to this specific language --- "Japanese".
While both sentences make sense, maybe by adding something to the sentence, you might be able to see the difference:
日本語の新聞を[読んだ後で]分かりますか。 Do you understand after reading the Japanese newspaper?
日本語の聞き取りを[聞いて]分かりますか。 Do you understand the listening comprehension?
In daily casual conversation, often, things a bit here and there tend to leave unsaid, yet it still makes sense.
Just stick to 「日本語が分かりますか。」
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Japanese use below. You can choose as you like.
日本語を話せますか? （はなせますか）Can you speak Japanese?
日本語が分かりますか? （わかりますか）Do you understand Japanese?
日本語を御存知ですか? （ごぞんじですか）Do you know Japanese?
If you ask 日本語を知っていますか? , it might sound little bit rude
and 御存知ですか? is polite.
日本語を分かる人は居られませんか? Is there someone who can understand Japanese?
(おられませんか? is polite than いませんか?)
In this case, I realized 日本語が分かる人は居られませんか? is also natural. Both OK.
日本語を話せる人は居られませんか? and 日本語が話せる人は居られませんか? both OK.
Anyway, 日本語を分かりますか? is almost OK but sounds strange.
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