Translation guide
To discover information, learn a fact, or become aware of something, often through investigation or by chance.
To learn or become aware of a specific piece of information, often after searching or asking.
The most common and natural way to express 'find out' in the sense of coming to know something. It implies understanding or becoming clear.
彼が辞めた理由がやっと分かった。
I finally found out why he quit.
調べたら、電車の時間が分かった。
I looked it up and found out the train time.
To get to know a fact. Often used in the past tense 知った to mean 'found out'. Note that 知っている means 'I know', not 'I am finding out'.
そのニュースを聞いて、初めて知った。
I found out for the first time when I heard the news.
彼が結婚していたことを昨日知った。
I found out yesterday that he was married.
A pattern meaning 'it turns out that...' or 'I find out that...'. Used when the discovery is the subject.
調べてみると、彼が正しかったことが分かった。
When I looked into it, I found out that he was right.
Used with a clause to mean 'find out that...'. Often with verbs like 調べる, 聞く.
彼に聞いて、会議が延期だと分かった。
I asked him and found out that the meeting was postponed.
To find out information through active effort, such as looking up, checking, or examining.
To look up, investigate, or check. Often used when you actively search for information.
その単語の意味を辞書で調べた。
I looked up the meaning of the word in a dictionary. (I found out the meaning.)
彼の経歴をインターネットで調べてみた。
I tried to find out about his background on the internet.
To track down, ascertain, or determine something after thorough investigation. Stronger than 調べる.
To probe, explore, or spy out. Used for finding out secrets or hidden information.
To find out something through rumors, news, or by chance without direct investigation.
To hear about, to come to one's ears. Often used for news or rumors.
彼が引っ越したという噂を耳にした。
I heard a rumor that he moved. (I found out he moved.)
To hear. In past tense 聞いた, it can mean 'I heard (and thus found out)'. Context makes it clear.
彼女が結婚するって聞いたよ。
I heard she's getting married. (I found out she's getting married.)
To find out something by noticing or realizing it, often suddenly.
To notice, realize, become aware. Often used when you find out something by observation.
彼が嘘をついていることに気づいた。
I found out that he was lying.
財布がないことに気づいた。
I found out my wallet was missing.
To perceive, discern, or become aware of a hidden truth. More literary or profound.
分かる focuses on understanding or the process of becoming clear, while 知る focuses on acquiring knowledge. 知った is often used for 'I found out (a fact)', while 分かった can mean 'I understand' or 'I found out (the answer)'. In many cases they overlap, but 分かる is more about comprehension.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly corresponds to 'find out' in all contexts. Avoid literal translations like 見つけ出す (which means 'to find/locate a physical object or person'). Use the appropriate verb based on how you obtained the information.
どうやって分かったの？
How did you find out?
これについてもっと調べないと。
I need to find out more about this.
警察は事故の原因を突き止めた。
The police found out the cause of the accident.
I tried to find out his true feelings.
He found out his fate.