知道 zhīdào — to know (a fact)

Meanings

1. 1

   to know (a fact)

   To have a piece of information. It takes a fact or a whole clause as its object — 我知道他的名字, 你知道现在几点吗 — while knowing a person is 认识.

   verb

Character breakdown

• 知

  zhī (first tone, high and level)

  to know, to be aware of, to realise; knowledge; to inform

  8 strokes⿰矢口Radical 矢

Example sentences

• 我知道他的名字。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) zhīdào (first tone, high and level) tā (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) míngzi. (second tone, rising)···

  I know his name.

• 你知道现在几点吗？/你知道現在幾點嗎？Nǐ (third tone, dipping) zhīdào (first tone, high and level) xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) jǐ (third tone, dipping) diǎn (third tone, dipping) ma? (neutral tone)···

  Do you know what time it is?

Common mistakes

• Not quite我知道他，他是我的朋友。

  Correct我认识他，他是我的朋友。

  知道 a person means you have heard of them; 认识 means you have actually met. A friend is someone you 认识.

Similar words