知 (zhī) — to know, to be aware
Definition
At HSK 7, 知 is a literary/formal verb meaning 'to know', mainly seen in set phrases like 众所周知 and 不知不觉 rather than everyday speech. For modern usage, learners use 知道 (fact) and 认识 (person) instead.
verb
to knowto be aware
Easily confused
- 矢shǐlook-alikearrow (bound form; literary)
- 只zhīsound-alike(classifier) used for one of a pair of animals, objects, or body parts; also for boats, certain containers
- 之zhīsound-alike(literary, possessive particle) equivalent to 的
- 之zhīsound-alike(literary pronoun) him, her, it (used as object)
- 支zhīsound-alikeclassifier for long, thin objects (pens, guns), army divisions, and songs/compositions
- 支zhīsound-aliketo prop up, to support
Examples
- 。Wǒ duì cǐ shì yì wú suǒ zhī.I know nothing about this matter.
- 知。Zhòng rén jiē zhī de dào lǐ tā què bù dǒng.The truth that everyone knows is something he doesn't understand.
- 。Bù zhī zhě bú zuì.He who does not know is not to blame.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
An early form of 知 showed 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to a child to pass on knowledge. The 子 part was dropped, and the 大 part changed shape.
Appears in
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