Japanese - Checking Understanding

Lesson 96 of 168

Teacher politely asking a small group a question in Japanese; scene about checking understanding and classroom/micro-meeting connection.

Goal: Quick checks and offers to repeat — be kind, clear, and polite

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson helps you pause politely and check that others understand you. We'll practice common classroom- and meeting-style phrases you can use to keep conversations smooth.

Listen, repeat, and try the short speaking prompts — these phrases are small but powerful social glue.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice polite ways to check comprehension and offer clarification (for example, 分かりますか？ (Wakarimasu ka?) and もう一度言いましょうか。 (Mō ichido iimashō ka.)). This CEFR-aligned lesson (number 96) focuses on short checks during explanations, offering repeats, and inviting questions so your conversations stay friendly and clear.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use polite checks like 分かりますか？ (Wakarimasu ka?) and ここまで大丈夫ですか。 (Koko made daijōbu desu ka.)
  • Offer to repeat or rephrase: もう一度言いましょうか。 (Mō ichido iimashō ka.) / 別の言い方で説明しましょうか。 (Betsu no iikata de setsumei shimashō ka.)
  • Invite questions and confirm specific parts: 何か質問はありますか。 (Nanika shitsumon wa arimasu ka.) / この部分は分かりますか。 (Kono bubun wa wakarimasu ka.)
A meeting room where a presenter pauses and asks ここまで大丈夫ですか？ (Koko made daijōbu desu ka?) to check everyone is following.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

分かりますか

Wakarimasu ka?

Do you understand?

Meaning: Do you understand?

When to use: Use this direct, polite question when you want to check understanding after explaining a point or giving instructions.

Tip: Beginners sometimes mix up 分かりますか？ and 分かりましたか？ — use 分かりますか？ to check now, 分かりましたか？ asks if they have already understood.

この説明で分かりますか？

Kono setsumei de wakarimasu ka?

Do you understand this explanation?
新しいルール、分かりますか？

Atarashii rūru, wakarimasu ka?

Do you understand the new rules?

ここまで大丈夫ですか？

Koko made daijōbu desu ka?

Is that clear?

Meaning: Is that clear?

When to use: Say this after a short explanation to check whether your point is clear; it's softer and conversational.

ここまで大丈夫ですか？問題はありませんか？

Koko made daijōbu desu ka? Mondai wa arimasen ka?

Is that clear so far? Any problems?
手順を説明しました。ここまで大丈夫ですか？

Tejun o setsumei shimashita. Koko made daijōbu desu ka?

I've explained the steps. Is that clear so far?

ここまでついてきていますか？

Koko made tsuite kite imasu ka?

Are you with me?

Meaning: Are you with me?

When to use: Use when you're explaining something step-by-step and want to confirm the listener is following.

少し複雑なので、ここまでついてきていますか？

Sukoshi fukuzatsu na node, koko made tsuite kite imasu ka?

This is a bit complex — are you following so far?
図を見せます。ここまでついてきていますか？

Zu o misemasu. Koko made tsuite kite imasu ka?

I'll show the diagram. Are you with me up to here?

私の言いたいこと、分かりますか？

Watashi no iitai koto, wakarimasu ka?

Do you know what I mean?

Meaning: Do you know what I mean?

When to use: Check whether the listener understands your intended point or nuance after making an argument or explanation.

私の言いたいこと、分かりますか？例を見せましょうか？

Watashi no iitai koto, wakarimasu ka? Rei o misemashō ka?

Do you know what I mean? Shall I show an example?
もう少し丁寧に言います。私の言いたいこと、分かりますか？

Mō sukoshi teinei ni iimasu. Watashi no iitai koto, wakarimasu ka?

I'll say it more carefully. Do you see what I mean?

何か質問はありますか。

Nanika shitsumon wa arimasu ka.

Any questions?

Meaning: Any questions?

When to use: Use this to invite questions after a talk, instruction, or explanation to show openness.

今日は以上です。何か質問はありますか。

Kyō wa ijō desu. Nanika shitsumon wa arimasu ka.

That's all for today. Any questions?
追加の説明が必要なら、何か質問はありますか？

Tsuika no setsumei ga hitsuyō nara, nanika shitsumon wa arimasu ka?

If you need more explanation, any questions?

今の、分かりましたか。

Ima no, wakarimashita ka.

Did you get that?

Meaning: Did you get that?

When to use: Ask specifically about the last thing you said — use when you want to confirm understanding of a recent point.

Tip: Learners sometimes use 分かりますか？ and 今の、分かりましたか。 interchangeably — the latter refers to the immediately previous point.

今の、分かりましたか。もう一度必要ですか？

Ima no, wakarimashita ka. Mō ichido hitsuyō desu ka?

Did you get that just now? Do you need it again?
今の数字、分かりましたか。メモしましたか？

Ima no sūji, wakarimashita ka. Memo shimashita ka?

Did you get that number I just said? Did you note it?

ここまで大丈夫ですか。

Koko made daijōbu desu ka.

Can you follow me?

Meaning: Can you follow me so far?

When to use: Pause during a step-by-step explanation to check the listener can continue with you.

順番に説明します。ここまで大丈夫ですか。

Junban ni setsumei shimasu. Koko made daijōbu desu ka.

I'll explain in order. Can you follow me so far?
速く話しました、でもここまで大丈夫ですか。

Hayaku hanashimashita, demo koko made daijōbu desu ka.

I spoke quickly, but is everything okay up to here?

この部分は分かりますか。

Kono bubun wa wakarimasu ka.

Is this part clear?

Meaning: Is this part clear?

When to use: Focus on a specific part of an explanation and check clarity before moving on.

この部分は分かりますか。図を拡大しますか？

Kono bubun wa wakarimasu ka. Zu o kakudai shimasu ka?

Is this part clear? Shall I enlarge the diagram?
この部分は分かりますか。例を出しますね。

Kono bubun wa wakarimasu ka. Rei o dashimasu ne.

Is this part clear? I'll give an example.

もう一度言いましょうか。

Mō ichido iimashō ka.

Do you want me to repeat that?

Meaning: Do you want me to repeat that?

When to use: Offer to repeat something you just said if the listener looks unsure or says they didn't catch it.

Tip: Avoid the less natural もう一度言いますか when offering help; もう一度言いましょうか。 sounds kinder and more natural.

早口でした。もう一度言いましょうか。

Hayakuchi deshita. Mō ichido iimashō ka?

That was fast. Shall I say it again?
聞き取りにくかったですか。もう一度言いましょうか。

Kikitori nikukatta desu ka. Mō ichido iimashō ka?

Was that hard to hear? Do you want me to repeat it?

私の説明、分かりやすいですか。

Watashi no setsumei, wakariyasui desu ka.

Am I explaining it clearly?

Meaning: Am I explaining it clearly?

When to use: Use when you want feedback on your clarity, for example in teaching or presenting.

私の説明、分かりやすいですか。改善点はありますか？

Watashi no setsumei, wakariyasui desu ka? Kaizenten wa arimasu ka?

Is my explanation easy to understand? Any improvements?
短く説明しました。私の説明、分かりやすいですか。

Mijika ku setsumei shimashita. Watashi no setsumei, wakariyasui desu ka?

I explained briefly. Is my explanation clear?

ここまで大丈夫ですか。

Koko made daijōbu desu ka.

Is everything okay so far?

Meaning: Is everything okay so far?

When to use: A very common phrase to pause and check comfort or understanding during an explanation.

ここまで大丈夫ですか。休憩しましょうか？

Koko made daijōbu desu ka? Kyūkei shimashō ka?

Is everything okay so far? Shall we take a break?
説明が長くなりました。ここまで大丈夫ですか。

Setsumei ga nagaku narimashita. Koko made daijōbu desu ka?

The explanation got long. Is everything okay so far?

もう一度説明しましょうか。

Mō ichido setsumei shimashō ka.

Should I explain it again?

Meaning: Should I explain it again?

When to use: Offer to repeat the entire explanation politely when someone looks lost or asks for help.

必要なら、もう一度説明しましょうか。

Hitsuyō nara, mō ichido setsumei shimashō ka?

If needed, should I explain it again?
聞き漏らした人がいるなら、もう一度説明しましょうか。

Kikimorashita hito ga iru nara, mō ichido setsumei shimashō ka?

If someone missed it, shall I explain it again?

別の言い方で説明しましょうか。

Betsu no iikata de setsumei shimashō ka.

Can I explain it another way?

Meaning: Can I explain it another way?

When to use: Offer a different wording or example when the listener doesn't understand the first explanation.

違う例で説明しますか。別の言い方で説明しましょうか。

Chigau rei de setsumei shimasu ka. Betsu no iikata de setsumei shimashō ka?

Shall I explain with a different example? Can I explain it another way?
やさしい言葉にします。別の言い方で説明しましょうか。

Yasashii kotoba ni shimasu. Betsu no iikata de setsumei shimashō ka?

I'll use simpler words. Shall I explain it another way?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna explains a process and checks if David understands.

Two colleagues pause after an explanation; one asks もう一度言いましょうか。 (Mō ichido iimashō ka.) offering to repeat in a friendly way.

What does Anna ask David after explaining?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

説明しますね。まず、こうしてから次に進みます。ここまで大丈夫ですか？

Setsumei shimasu ne. Mazu, kō shite kara tsugi ni susumimasu. Koko made daijōbu desu ka?

I'll explain. First do this, then move on. Is that clear so far?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

うん、ここまでは大丈夫です。でもこの部分は少し迷います。

Un, koko made wa daijōbu desu. Demo kono bubun wa sukoshi mayoimasu.

Yes, up to here is fine. But I'm a little unsure about this part.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

この部分は分かりますか。別の言い方で説明しましょうか。

Kono bubun wa wakarimasu ka. Betsu no iikata de setsumei shimashō ka?

Is this part clear? Shall I explain it another way?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

お願いします。もう一度言いましょうか？

Onegaishimasu. Mō ichido iimashō ka?

Please. Would you say it again?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

はい、もう一度説明します。何か質問はありますか。

Hai, mō ichido setsumei shimasu. Nanika shitsumon wa arimasu ka?

Okay, I'll explain again. Any questions?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Japanese phrase best matches 'Any questions?'

Which phrase would you use to check the listener is following step-by-step?

Which phrase is a polite offer to repeat what you said?

If you want to check a specific part is clear, which phrase fits best?

I was worried the explanation was fast. Do you want me to repeat it?

説明が速くて心配です。___ もう一度お願いします。

This diagram is complex. Is this part clear, especially the arrow area?

この図は複雑です。___ 特にこの矢印のところは？

After the presentation, the teacher said: 'Any questions?'

発表の後で、先生が言いました。「___」

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

分かりますか

Wakarimasu ka?

Do you understand?

Say this phrase out loud:

ここまで大丈夫ですか？

Koko made daijōbu desu ka?

Is that clear?

Say this phrase out loud:

ここまでついてきていますか？

Koko made tsuite kite imasu ka?

Are you with me?

Say this phrase out loud:

私の言いたいこと、分かりますか？

Watashi no iitai koto, wakarimasu ka?

Do you know what I mean?

Say this phrase out loud:

何か質問はありますか。

Nanika shitsumon wa arimasu ka.

Any questions?

Say this phrase out loud:

今の、分かりましたか。

Ima no, wakarimashita ka.

Did you get that?

Say this phrase out loud:

ここまで大丈夫ですか。

Koko made daijōbu desu ka.

Is everything okay so far?

Say this phrase out loud:

この部分は分かりますか。

Kono bubun wa wakarimasu ka.

Is this part clear?

Say this phrase out loud:

もう一度言いましょうか。

Mō ichido iimashō ka.

Do you want me to repeat that?

Say this phrase out loud:

私の説明、分かりやすいですか。

Watashi no setsumei, wakariyasui desu ka.

Am I explaining it clearly?

Say this phrase out loud:

ここまで大丈夫ですか。

Koko made daijōbu desu ka.

Is everything okay so far?

Say this phrase out loud:

もう一度説明しましょうか。

Mō ichido setsumei shimashō ka.

Should I explain it again?

Say this phrase out loud:

別の言い方で説明しましょうか。

Betsu no iikata de setsumei shimashō ka.

Can I explain it another way?