しりません

§ しりません (shirimasen): Definition and Usage

The Japanese word しりません (shirimasen) is a common and useful verb to know. It literally means 'to not know'. This isn't just about facts; it can be used in many situations where you lack information or are unfamiliar with something.

DEFINITION

To not know.

You'll hear しりません used frequently in everyday conversations, from casual chats to more formal settings. Understanding how and when to use it is key to sounding natural in Japanese.

§ How to use しりません in different situations

Here’s how you can use しりません in various contexts you might encounter in Japan.

§ At work

In a work environment, you might need to say you don't know something. It's important to do so politely.

Hint: 'I don't know about that matter.'

Hint: 'I'm sorry, I don't know the details of that project yet.'

§ At school

In a classroom or academic setting, you might use しりません when asked a question you don't have the answer to.

Hint: 'Teacher, I don't know the answer to that problem.'

Hint: 'Don't you know his name?'

§ In the news or public announcements

While you might not say しりません yourself in a formal news report, you'll hear it in interviews or when officials are asked questions they can't answer or aren't authorized to answer.

Hint: 'At present, I don't know the details.'

Hint: 'I didn't know there was such a shop in this area.' (Past tense: 知りませんでした - shirimasen deshita).

§ Important notes on using しりません

• Using しりません can sometimes sound a bit blunt if not softened. If you want to be softer, you can add わかりません (wakarimasen - I don't understand/I don't know) instead, especially if the nuance is more about comprehension.
• When referring to people you don't know, しりません is perfectly natural. Example: その人を知りません。(Sono hito o shirimasen - I don't know that person.)

Alright, let's talk about some common pitfalls when using しりません (shirimasen). It's a useful phrase, but a lot of learners, even at A2, tend to misuse it. Pay attention to these points, and you'll sound much more natural.

§ Sounding Impolite

The biggest mistake people make is using しりません in situations where it comes off as blunt or even rude. While it directly translates to 'I don't know,' simply saying しりません can sound dismissive, especially to someone you don't know well or in a formal setting.

Instead of just dropping しりません, try to add a polite softener like すみません (sumimasen - excuse me/I'm sorry) or わかりません (wakarimasen - I don't understand/I don't know). While both しりません and わかりません mean 'I don't know,' わかりません is generally softer and more polite when referring to not understanding or not being aware of information.

§ Using it for 'I don't understand'

This is another common one. If you don't understand what someone is saying, or you don't grasp a concept, しりません isn't the right word. You should use わかりません (wakarimasen).

DEFINITION

しりません (shirimasen): To not know a fact or information.

DEFINITION

わかりません (wakarimasen): To not understand, or to not know in a general sense, often implying a lack of comprehension or awareness.

Think of it this way: しりません is for not knowing a specific piece of data or a person. わかりません is for not understanding something conceptually or not knowing how to do something.

This is correct. You wouldn't say 日本語をしりません (Nihongo o shirimasen) in this context because you're talking about comprehension, not just a fact.

§ Not knowing a person

You can use しりません when you don't know a person, but again, be careful about the tone. It can still sound a bit stark. If someone asks, 'Do you know Tanaka-san?' and you don't, しりません is grammatically correct. However, adding a polite phrase is almost always better.

This is much better than just '田中さん、しりません.' (Tanaka-san, shirimasen.).

§ Overusing the Plain Form

As an A2 learner, you're getting into more complex politeness levels. While しらない (shiranai) is the plain form of しりません, using it too casually can also be a mistake, especially if you're not speaking with close friends or family. In most situations where you'd be interacting with people you're learning Japanese to speak with, the polite form しりません is safer.

Here are some better alternatives or ways to soften your 'I don't know' responses:

• すみません、ちょっとわかりません。(Sumimasen, chotto wakarimasen.) - Excuse me, I don't quite understand/know. (Softer, implies you might be able to figure it out or are sorry for not knowing.)
• たぶんしらないです。(Tabun shiranai desu.) - Maybe I don't know. (Adding 'tabun' - perhaps/maybe - softens it.)
• ちょっとしりません。(Chotto shirimasen.) - I don't quite know. (The 'chotto' here means 'a little' but serves as a softener.)

Remember, Japanese communication often values indirectness and politeness. Simply stating a negative fact like 'I don't know' without any cushioning can be perceived as abrupt. Practice using these softer alternatives, and you'll sound much more natural and polite to native speakers.