to know vs to understand in Korean

알다vs납득하다

to know

알다to know

알다 (to know) means to have information in your mind or to be familiar with someone, something, or a place. You use it when you know a fact, know a person, or know the answer. It is very common in daily Korean, especially in sentences like "I know" and "Do you know?".

When to use to know
to understand

납득하다to understand

납득하다 means to understand something and feel that it makes sense. You use it when you hear a reason or explanation and accept it. It is common for rules, decisions, prices, and other situations where you say, “Okay, I understand now.”

When to use to understand

How they differ

알다 means to know a fact or be aware of something. It does not mean you were persuaded by a reason or explanation.