when to use formal and informal conjugations?


wakatta and wakarimashita are used sometimes in anime. I understand one is
informal and the other is formal past tense. When do you have to use the
informal and when to use the formal tenses of the verbs? Are there a set of
rules or is it something vague?




wakaru is the verb "to understand".

wakatta is its past tense informal form.

wakarimashita is its past tense polite or formal form.

So they both mean "Understood".

As a Japanese learner or foreigner in their country, you should be using
polite forms until you make some friends and speak with them "informally".

Also the informal tense is used in some grammar situations, as for:

The relative clause (adjacent adjective):

> 分かった質問【しつもん】. "Understood question"
>
> 結婚【けっこん】した男【おとこ】です. "(he) is a married man".




wakaru is the verb "to understand".

wakatta is its past tense informal form.

wakarimashita is its past tense polite or formal form.

So they both mean "Understood".

As a Japanese learner or foreigner in their country, you should be using
polite forms until you make some friends and speak with them "informally".

Also the informal tense is used in some grammar situations, as for:

The relative clause (adjacent adjective):

> 分かった質問【しつもん】. "Understood question"
>
> 結婚【けっこん】した男【おとこ】です. "(he) is a married man".

