日本語が分かりますか vs 日本語を分かりますか

[phreadom]

A couple users in the TJP chat were discussing which way was the correct way to ask "do you understand Japanese?"

「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?).

Thank you!

[Dustin]

わかる - The main meaning of わかる is often listed in dictionaries as 'to understand', yet a more literal translation is 'to be clear/understandable'. This means that the thing being understood takes a subject particle (が/は ) instead of an object particle (を ).


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

......................*edit*................


AHA

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.

親の死を小さい子供に分からせるのは難しい。

It is hard to make a small child comprehend the death of a parent.



ダスティンはフリダームの気持ちを分かろうとしない。

Dustin does not try to understand Phreadom's feelings.

[ss]

We know particle を is used to indicate the object of an action, that's why we say 「日本語を話す/話します」　(Speak Japanese). I remember sensei once said, native Japanese don't usually ask 「日本語を話しますか。」　(Speak Japanese?)

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。」

[Setaceau]

Hi, Hellow,

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.

Setaceau

[phreadom]

Thank you very much everyone for the explanations.

本当にありがとうございます。