认识 (rèn shi) — to know (a person); to recognize (something); t…

Definition

认识 is for knowing PEOPLE and for recognizing things you've seen before. Use 知道 for knowing facts or information.

verb

to know (a person)to recognize (something)to get to know (used when meeting for the first time)

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

认rènrecognize

认 and 识 both mean know or recognize, together mean know someone or something.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

讠人认

Meaning part形符xíngfú

讠Written in full as言yánspeech

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

Same sound today

The left part 讠 shows speech, and the right part 人 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 識; 识 is its simplified writing.

言戠識

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

戠

戠zhí識zhì

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 識 pairs 言 (say) with 戠 as a sound part; the simplified 识 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Appears in