认识

rèn shi

to know [be familiar with]

HSK Level 1

Example Sentences

我认识他。

wǒ rèn shi tā.

I know him.

你不认识我吗?

nǐ bù rèn shi wǒ ma?

Don't you know me?

我们认识很久了。

wǒ men rèn shi hěn jiǔ le.

We have known each other for a long time.

Synonyms

熟悉 (shúxi)

familiar with

了解 (liǎojiě)

understand

认识 (rènshi)

know

Antonyms

陌生 (mò shēng)

unfamiliar

不认识 (bù rènshi)

don't know

Start Learning with HSK Tracker

Track your progress, master characters, and achieve your Chinese language goals.

Get Started Free
HSK Tracker Preview

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 认识 (rèn shi) is composed of two characters: 认 (rèn) and 识 (shí). The character 认 originally meant "to look at" or "to observe", and later extended to mean "to recognize" or "to know". The character 识 originally meant "to distinguish" or "to discern", and later extended to mean "to understand" or "to be familiar with". When combined, the two characters 认识 (rèn shi) mean "to know" or "to be familiar with".The word 认识 (rèn shi) can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, it can be used to talk about knowing a person, knowing a place, or knowing a thing. It can also be used to talk about understanding a concept or being familiar with a topic.The word 认识 (rèn shi) is an important word in Chinese, and it is used frequently in everyday conversation. By understanding the etymology of this word, HSK learners can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and usage.