感Verbs and descriptions
Seeing, hearing, understanding
Some things just come to you: a view, a sound, an understanding. These three verbs describe that, and they all use が.
Comes to you, or you do it?
見える vs. 見られる
You can see the mountains from the roof.
It's simply visible, whether you try or not.
You can watch movies here.
The opportunity or ability to choose to watch.
The same for hearing
聞こえる vs. 聞ける
I can hear birds singing.
The sound just reaches you.
You can listen to the radio on this app.
You're able to choose to listen.
Another use
They also mean “seems”
Tanaka looks young.
い adjective in its く form.
He looks well.
な adjective or noun with に.
That story sounds like a lie.
The teacher has arrived.
見える is also a polite word for “come”.
分かる
Understanding also takes が
分かる already contains “can”, so it has no potential form. Never say 分かれる for “can understand”.
I understand Japanese.
I don't know the answer.
They figured out the culprit right away.
分かる vs. 知る
Figuring out, or learning a fact
I understood why they got angry.
You've worked it out.
I know her name.
A fact you got from outside.
Check yourself
Which sense is this about?
Your turn
Which verb fits?
Say it yourself
Bad connection
You're on a video call. You can't hear the other person very well, and you can't see their face either.
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