In Japanese, there are several ways to say "I don’t know." One way is to say まだわかりません (madawakarimasen). This is the most common way to say "I don’t know" in Japanese.
Another way to say "I don’t know" in Japanese is だれもわかりません (daremo wakarimasen). This is used when you want to say that nobody knows the answer to a question.
If you want to say "I don’t know" in a more polite way, you can say ごめんなさい (gomen nasai). This is used when you are apologize for not knowing something.
Here are some example sentences using each of these phrases:
どこで買えばいいですか？ 私はまだわかりません。 Where should I buy it? I don't know yet.
明日の天気はどうなると思いますか？だれもわかりません。 What do you think the weather will be like tomorrow? Nobody knows.
この言葉の意味は何ですか？ ごめんなさい、私はわかりません。 What does this word mean? I'm sorry, I don't know.
Consider reading: When a Man Says I Don't Owe You Anything?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic words for learning Japanese?
Hon – Book Beddo – Bed Tanjōby – Birthday
How do I memorise Japanese vocabulary?
There is no “one size fits all” answer to this question, as the best way to memorise Japanese vocabulary will vary depending on your level of proficiency and active use of the language. However, some commonly recommended methods for students of Japanese are: 1. Make a flashcard deck of your new words – this is a great way to get started, as you can review your new vocabulary whenever you feel like it and easily test yourself on what you have learned. Simply print out a list of your new words (or take pictures screenshots if they are digital) and put them in a sturdy cardstock holder. You can then organize them by topic or category, such as everyday topics (travel, food, shopping), grammar and vocabularies (nouns and verbs), kanji compounds and jisho mnemonic devices. This is an effective method for people who have a lot of time available to them and want to commit a lot of quick minutes each
Is it OK to say “I don't know” in Japan?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the cultural norms in Japan will vary depending on your relationship with the person you’re speaking to and the specific situation. However, it’s generally polite to refrain from giving a straightforward “no” or answering with an emphatic “yes” when someone asks if something is OK, as usually a more puzzled or apologetic response would be appropriate. Try using phrases such as “I don't understand what you mean” or “could you explain that again?” instead.
How do you Say Sorry in Japanese when you don't understand English?
There are a few ways to say "sorry" in Japanese when you don't understand English, depending on the situation. For example, if you've accidentally bumped someone's belongings or caused some other unintended damage: Sumimasen (さゐまされん), usually pronounced soh-mah-seh-nuh. This phrase can be used in various ways, such as when apologizing for making a mess or apologizing for anything at all. As others have pointed out, saying this too perfectly or correctly in Japanese may actually cause some confusion and lead to a barrage of questions in Japanese. LOL
What is the Japanese word for “to know?
The most common Japanese word that means “to know” is 知る (shiru).
Sources
- https://detabs.sfflexsuiteweb.com/how-to-say-i-dont-know-in-japanese-2/
- https://www.italki.com/post/question-290203
- https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/10724460
- https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the/japanese-word-for-60a844ccb6cea52ef6f42319f56af7a4d3d1a734.html
- https://vi.hinative.com/questions/19849804
- https://japanesetactics.com/how-to-say-i-dont-care-in-japanese
- https://questionanswerhub.com/how-do-you-say-i-dont-know-in-japanese/
- https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/8134803
- https://www.youtube.com/watch
- https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/2066753
- https://www.memrise.com/dictionary/japanese/how-to-say-i-dont-understand-i-dont-know
- https://thelanguagequest.com/i-dont-know-in-japanese/
- https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-say-I-dont-know-in-Japanese
Featured Images: pexels.com
