Comparing "renshi" and "zhidao"

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知道 vs. 认识

Similarities

Parts of Speech

Both are verbs.

Meaning

Both can mean “to know” a person. (In this sense, 知道 means “to know of” a person, but not on a personal level; whereas, 认识 means “to personally know” someone, in other words, to have had an interaction or encounter with that person).

Degree of Formality

Both can used in formal/informal settings.

Collocations

These patterns work with both 知道 and 认识:

  • 他~你
  • ~一个人
  • ~老师
  • ~他/她.

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, 知道 and 认识 both can be used interchangeably:

  • 认识 马老师。
  • 他们 知道 一 个 人 , 他 能 帮 我们 解决 问题 。
  • 小刘 认识 我的 朋友 。
  • 知道 他 。
  • 他说他 认识 你 。

Differences

Parts of Speech

知道 is only a verb, whereas 认识 is mainly a verb (it can also be used as a noun, but is rather limited in usage and outside the scope of this comparison).

Meaning

知道 means “to have knowledge of”, “to realize”, or “to become aware” of a person or something heard or said (认识 does not have this usage).

Example Sentences

Only 知道 can be used in the following sentences :

  • 你知道你父母的生日吗?
  • 这是我第一次来中国,我不知道去哪里玩最好。
  • 你不知道他有女朋友吗?
  • 我一直生活在城市,不太知道农村人的生活习惯。
  • 你知道李老师是一名很出名的科学家吗?
  • 他知道你的意思。
  • 我真不知道怎么说。
  • 我知道这道题的答案。
  • 他知道自己是错的。
  • 老师说他不知道我们什么时候才能到重庆。

Meaning

认识 means “to meet” (first time encounter with a person), “to have an understanding of” or “to recognize” a person, something, someone, some place, or a concept on a deep level (知道 does not have this usage).

Collocations

These patterns work only with 认识: ~你很高兴/很高兴~你, 充分~, ~路, ~地方, ~世界

Example Sentences

Only “认识” can be used:

  • 你跟你老公是怎么认识的?
  • 你们先互相认识,然后我们开始讨论。
  • 那个时候我刚来上海,不认识什么本地的朋友。
  • 我不认识路。
  • 我很高兴认识你!
  • 我们认识的那一天就是他25岁的生日。
  • 我不认识那个地方。
  • 她是你朋友,你应该认识她。
  • 你们认识才几个月,就要结婚了?
  • 我们已经认识十几年了。

Advanced Comparison

Sometimes both 知道 and 认识 are used the same sentence.

Example sentences (both 知道 and 认识 in the same sentence):

  • 我们已经认识十几年了,可是他的很多事情我都知道。
  • 小李,你不知道我有女朋友吗,她是咱们去年在南京旅游的时候认识的那个大学生。