Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the idea of causing someone to understand something in Japanese. It includes causative forms, explanatory phrases, and natural communication strategies.
To make someone understand a fact, concept, or situation, often through explanation or demonstration.
The causative form of わかる (to understand). Used when the subject actively makes someone understand, often implying effort or insistence.
The teacher made the students understand how to solve the problem.
It's difficult to make him understand my feelings.
Causative of 理解する (to comprehend). Slightly more formal than わからせる, often used for intellectual understanding.
Use this document to make the new employees understand the rules.
Causative of 納得する (to be convinced/accept). Implies making someone understand and accept something, often emotionally or logically.
To make him understand (and accept), we need more evidence.
To convey the process of explaining thoroughly so that the listener grasps the point.
Literally 'explain until (they) understand'. A natural, common way to express making someone understand through explanation.
Please explain until the child understands.
More explicit: 'explain until (I) receive understanding'. Emphasizes the speaker's effort to be understood.
To cause someone to notice or become conscious of something, often with a nuance of enlightenment.
To impart knowledge or skill so that the learner comprehends and can apply it.
Compound verb meaning 'to teach thoroughly, to drill into someone'. Implies intensive instruction until understanding is achieved.
Drill the basics of the job into the new employees.
A more roundabout way: 'teach so as to make them understand'. Natural when emphasizing the goal of comprehension.
To compel someone to understand, often against their will or with authority.
Using 無理やり (forcibly) with わからせる. Conveys a coercive or aggressive tone.
It's useless to try to force him to understand.
English 'make someone understand' often uses a causative structure. In Japanese, direct causatives like わからせる are natural, but overusing them can sound forceful. Often, it's more natural to use phrases like わかるまで説明する (explain until they understand) or 理解してもらう (receive understanding).
I want him to understand. (lit. I want to receive understanding from him.)
わからせる is the most general and common. 理解させる is more formal and intellectual. 納得させる implies acceptance or emotional agreement, not just cognitive understanding.
I will explain carefully until the customer understands.
We need to make him understand his responsibility as a leader.
It's a teacher's job to teach so that students understand.