Difference between revisions of "Comparing "renshi" and "zhidao""

Line 140: Line 140:
 
== For Being Familiar with a Place Use 认识 (rènshi) ==
 
== For Being Familiar with a Place Use 认识 (rènshi) ==
  
If you want to say "know" in the sense of "being familiar with" a place or possibly some other thing, use 认识 (rènshi). Here it can mean “to have an understanding of” or “to recognize” a place, a route, a character, or a concept on a deep level.
+
If you want to say "know" in the sense of "being familiar with" a place or possibly some other thing, use 认识 (rènshi). Here it can mean “to have an understanding of” or “to recognize” a place, a route, or a character.
  
 
=== Common Pattern ===
 
=== Common Pattern ===
Line 148: Line 148:
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Collocations ===
+
Although "place" is most commonly used in this pattern, there are a few other possibilities you might see.
  
These patterns work only with 认识:
+
=== Common Phrases ===
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
* <em>认识</em> 路<span class="pinyin"><em>rènshi</em> nǐ</span><span class="trans">To know the way (to get somewhere)</span>
 
* <em>认识</em> 地方<span class="pinyin"><em>rènshi</em></span><span class="trans">To be familiar with a place</span>
 
</div>
 
  
 
These patterns are commonly used with 认识, but not exclusive to 认识 (and may mean something slightly different if you use 知道 (zhīdào) in these sentences):
 
These patterns are commonly used with 认识, but not exclusive to 认识 (and may mean something slightly different if you use 知道 (zhīdào) in these sentences):
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
* <em>认识</em> Place<span class="pinyin"><em>rènshi</em> nǐ</span><span class="trans">Know a place</span>
+
* <em>认识</em> 地方<span class="pinyin"><em>rènshi</em> nǐ</span><span class="trans">Know a place</span>
* <em>认识</em> 这个字<span class="pinyin"><em>rènshi</em></span><span class="trans">Know a character</span>
+
* <em>认识</em> 路<span class="pinyin"><em>rènshi</em> nǐ</span><span class="trans">Know the way (t somewhere)</span>
 +
* <em>认识</em> 字<span class="pinyin"><em>rènshi</em></span><span class="trans">Know a character</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
For each of these, you could also use 知道 (zhīdào), but the emphasis is different. 认识 (rènshi) emphasizes familiarity with a place, whereas 知道 (zhīdào) emphasizes knowledge of a place's existence.
 
For each of these, you could also use 知道 (zhīdào), but the emphasis is different. 认识 (rènshi) emphasizes familiarity with a place, whereas 知道 (zhīdào) emphasizes knowledge of a place's existence.
  
== Example Sentences ==
+
=== Example Sentences ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我不认识那个地方,也不认识路。
+
* 我 不 <em>认识</em> 那个 地方 。
 +
* 他 不 <em>认识</em> 路 。
 +
* 他们 都 不 <em>认识</em> 这个 字 。
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 07:25, 11 August 2021

Both 知道 (zhīdào) and 认识 (rènshi) are commonly used as verbs, and both can are often translated as “to know.” Both can used in formal/informal settings. But 知道 (zhīdào) emphasizes knowledge of facts, while 认识 (rènshi) emphasizes familiarity, usually with people.

知道 (zhīdào) 认识 (rènshi)
Meaningemphasizes knowledgeemphasizes familiarity
Part of Speechverbverb (mostly)
Formalityflexibleflexible

For Knowing Facts Use 知道 (zhīdào)

This one is pretty straightforward. 知道 (zhīdào) is only a verb, and means “to have knowledge of.”

Common Pattern

知道 + Fact

Example Sentences

Only 知道 can be used in the following sentences :

  • 知道 她的 生日 吗 ?
  • 知道 明天 开会 。
  • 知道 中国 有 很 多 人 。
  • 你 不 知道 明天 下雨 吗 ?
  • 我 不 知道 为什么 。
  • 知道 自己 错 了 。

For New Realizations Use 知道 (zhīdào)

知道 (zhīdào) can also mean “to realize”, or “to become aware” of a person or something heard or said. You're going to see 知道 (zhīdào) used with 了 (le) for this usage.

Pattern

知道 + Fact + 了

Common Phrases

  • 知道zhīdàoTo become aware of

Example Sentences

Only 知道 can be used in the following sentences :

  • 好的, 我 知道 了。

For Knowing People Use 认识 (rènshi)

If you want to say "know" a person also use 认识 (rènshi). Use this only to describe knowing a person through direct firsthand experience.

Common Pattern

认识 + Person

Example Sentences

  • 认识 她 , 她 是 我的 朋友 。
  • 我 不 认识 你 。
  • 我们 认识 吗 ?
  • 我们 认识 两 年 了 。

For Meeting People Use 认识 (rènshi)

If you want to say "meet" (a person for the first time), use 认识 (rènshi). Note that the structure here is basically the same as the "knowing a person" use of 认识 (rènshi), so you'll have to determine based on context whether it's the "know" or "meet" meaning of 认识 (rènshi).

Set Phrases

These sentences work only with 认识.

  • 认识 你 很 高兴。rènshiNice to meet you.
  • 很 高兴 认识 你。rènshiNice to meet you.

These two sentences mean exactly the same thing.

Example Sentences

  • 我 在 上海 认识 了 很 多 朋友 。
  • 你 和 你的 朋友 是 怎么 认识 的 ?
  • 我们 是 在 法国 认识 的 。

For Knowing OF People Use 知道 (zhīdào)

If you want to say "know OF a person (but do not know them personally) use 知道 (zhīdào). In this case you know they exist, or know who they are, but you've never met them, aren't friends with them, etc.

Common Pattern

知道 + Person

Example Sentences

  • 认识 她 ,她 是 我的 朋友 。
  • 我们 认识 两 年 了 。
  • 我在上海认识了很多朋友。
  • 我不认识那个地方,也不认识路。
  • 你和你的朋友是怎么认识的?
  • 我们是在法国认识的。

For Being Familiar with a Place Use 认识 (rènshi)

If you want to say "know" in the sense of "being familiar with" a place or possibly some other thing, use 认识 (rènshi). Here it can mean “to have an understanding of” or “to recognize” a place, a route, or a character.

Common Pattern

认识 + Place/Thing

Although "place" is most commonly used in this pattern, there are a few other possibilities you might see.

Common Phrases

These patterns are commonly used with 认识, but not exclusive to 认识 (and may mean something slightly different if you use 知道 (zhīdào) in these sentences):

  • 认识 地方rènshiKnow a place
  • 认识rènshiKnow the way (t somewhere)
  • 认识rènshiKnow a character

For each of these, you could also use 知道 (zhīdào), but the emphasis is different. 认识 (rènshi) emphasizes familiarity with a place, whereas 知道 (zhīdào) emphasizes knowledge of a place's existence.

Example Sentences

  • 我 不 认识 那个 地方 。
  • 他 不 认识 路 。
  • 他们 都 不 认识 这个 字 。