Mr.

Pole :
(degree of fame)
(acquaintance)
As you say, wak arimasen means the same as shirimasen. But
there is a difference: If you use shirimasen in conversation, it can
sound cold in some cases. But there is no need to worry when you dont
know which phrase is more appropriate in a particular situation. The
information below may answer your questions concerning these two
phrases. But if the difference is still not clear, it may be safer to just use
wak arimasen.
Mr. Pole
When I want to say I dont know in J apanese, I
always say shi ri masen. But Ive noticed many
J apanese people use w ak arimasen more often.
These two phrases are supposed to have the same
meaning, so whats the difference? Is wak arimasen
politer than shirimasenHIm afraid that I may have
been using shirimasen in inappropriate situations. D
e
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4 5 6
Answers Answers
shiru

With cooperation fromAkiko E. Yasukawa
2
3
4
6
aware; know; intelligence
[five senses : sight / hearing / smell / taste / touch]
wak arimasen

Esight
Ehearing
Esmell
Etaste
Etouch
Q: How high is that mountain?
Q: Is this the sound of a harpsichord or a piano?
Q: Something smells good. Is that yak itori?
Q: Is this French wine?
Q: Is this carpet wool or synthetic?
...
Q : Do you know Mr. Kijima?
A : No, I dont know him.
shirimasen
I d o n t k n o w i n Ja p a n e se ca n b e . . .
Ecan sound abrupt if used too much
Ecan imply Thats not my concern,
said in a strong tone of voice

(I dont have any knowledge/information)

(I have no idea)
Ecan be used in just about any situation
Ewill not be misunderstood as long as
not used in a strong tone of voice
Ecan be used in any case concerning
@the five senses; see below
(implying: I dont have any
information about him.)
Answer : I dont know.
shirimasen

e.g.,
Q : 5 0.215 ~8 24 ?
A : I dont know.
wak arimasen
(implying: I learned it before, but
I cant answer it.)
Hssss... wak arimasen
J apanese people often make a Hsssss
sound when thinking by sucking in their
breath through their teeth.
WB
ano k aisha wa k ank e nai desu yo
@@@@
saik in
my father many so
c hic hi wa ga oi desu@k ara
recently
that company nothing to do with
@ @@@@@
every year new year card huge amount of arrive
maitoshi nengajo wa yama no yoni k imasu
N@@NR B
This commodity is not well known, but somehow
sells well.
(as far as I know) m
watashi no shiru k agiri dewa
m@

tabun k ahogo de sodatta k ara desho

B
this low commodity
k ono shohin wa ga hik ui desu ga,
i A
shiriai
m
As far as I know, it has nothing to do with that company.
A
B
Recently, the number of people who are ignorant of the
world has been increasing.
My father has a wide circle of acquaintances,
perhaps overprotection grew up
c hime
-
do
mx
so heaps of New Years cards arrive for him every year.@
sek en shirazu
m (be ignorant of the ways
of the world, naive)
Perhaps its because they were overprotected when
growing up.
degree of fame
acquaintance
as far as I know

1
2
3
4
l B
no hito ga f uete-k imashita
person has been increasing
C
D
B
nazek a yok u ureteimasu
somehow well well-sold
Answers
raishu
-
Kyoto ni
Ts B
or
next week (this information is uncertain)
Hot el desu k a ryok an desu k a
ze B@ B
Kyoto de sak ana no oishi
-
r est aur ant gozonji desu k a
sXgmB
muri tok a... (itte-mashita)
...i j

+
tok a
e.g.,
someone said impossible
I hear its impossible.
(implying: I am still thinking about it.)
can be omitted
m
shirimasen
s
ik u tok a

soretomo

wak arimasen
m
shirimasen
Client :
Client :
Mr. Pole :
hear you will go
-verb (dictionary form)
-noun
-i-adjective
-na-adjective (omit na)

I hear you are going to Kyoto next week.

Are you staying in a hotel or an inn?
Hummmm...I dont know.
Do you know of a good fish restaurant in Kyoto?
(implying: Someone else is making the decision.)
(implying: I know a good restaurant in Kyoto,
but it is not a fish restaurant.)
Hummmm...I dont know.
(implying: I dont know anything about restaurants
in Kyoto.)
I see...

wak arimasen
I dont know.
I dont know.
I dont know.
5
I dont know.
t ok a is used to mark
uncertain information heard
from someone else.
(I hear ... / Someone says... )
polite form of Do you know
A - 3 B - 2 C - 1 D - 4
5-minut e Japanese Class by Hit omi Hirayama
Vo l . 1 1
Copyright 1999 The Yomiuri Shimbun
be ignorant of the ways of the world, naive