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I have found several topics on the usage of 「全然」 following a positive term
（like this one [全然 {ぜんぜん} with positive adjective / na-
adjective](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/794/%E5%85%A8%E7%84%B6-%E3%81%9C%E3%82%93%E3%81%9C%E3%82%93-with-
positive-adjective-na-adjective))

But I am still confused about the phrase 「全然わかる」

When someone tells me that they think I can understand Japanese:

「日本語全然わかる。」

What do they want to imply about my Japanese level when they say this? They
think I can understand mostly (like ほとんど), or just roughly (like だいたい??), or
just a little bit?

Thanks!
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2016-10-27T07:11:40.790
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2016-10-28T01:22:21.060
2017-04-13T12:43:44.397
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word-choice meaning
The meaning of　「全然わかる」
They mean that you can "totally" understand Japanese.  
Not in a literal way but... For example, if they ask you if you can understand
Japanese, then you say something like "not well" or "just a little", they
might reply with something like "全然分かるじゃん！" Which sort of mean "don't be
modest! You are totally(very) good!"

Problem is, Japanese people usually get impressed too easily/are too kind and
are probably gonna praise you as such for just being able to answer that
simple question.
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2016-10-27T07:18:10.490
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2016-10-27T07:18:10.490
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I think [Boaz Yaniv's answer](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/806/5010)
in the question you lined explains the meaning of 全然わかる very well.

> The situations I've seen the positive 全然 are all situations where there's an
> expectation of something "not being X" but it actually "is X". For instance,
> you'd usually say 全然OKです when someone asks you if something is okay with you
> and you see that he's not sure whether it is - so you assure him that his
> negative expectations are completely unfounded and it's completely okay.

全然わかる can be used, for example, after you said you are worried about your
Japanese skill:

> You: (I think my Japanese is not good...)  
>  Someone: そんなことないよ、（あなたの）日本語全然わかるよ。

... or after someone said you appear not to understand Japanese:

> A: あの人は日本語ができないでしょう？  
>  B: いや、日本語全然わかるよ。

In such a situation, 全然 in 全然わかる implies "quite contrary to someone's current
(negative) expectation / observation / worry".

Note that 全然 does not imply your current level of Japanese, at least directly.
全然わかる does not necessarily mean your Japanese is perfect. Basically it sounds
like "Your/Her Japanese is not bad at all." or "She _does_ understand
Japanese."

This type of 全然 is still slangy, so please don't use it in formal settings.
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answer