认识
to know (a person); to recognize
HSK level
- Pinyin
- rènshi
- Part of speech
- verb
- Level
- HSK 1
- Strokes
- 11
- Register
- neutral
- In episodes
- 1
Stroke order for 认识
认识 is written with 11 strokes (认: 4, 识: 7). The animation replays automatically.
What does 认识 mean?
认识 (rènshi) is the verb 'to know' in the sense of being acquainted with — a person, a place, or a written character.
我认识他 means 'I know him (we've met),' not 'I know facts about him.' For 'knowing information or knowing how to,' Chinese uses a different verb, 知道 (zhīdào). 认识 also handles 'to recognize': 我认识这个字 means 'I recognize/can read this character.'
When two people meet for the first time, the standard polite phrase is 认识你很高兴 (rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng) — 'nice to meet you.' Note the second character 识 is read with a neutral tone here (shi, not shí), and the whole word is unstressed on the second syllable. The opposite, 'not to know someone,' is 不认识.
Character by character
Memory hook: 认 (recognize) + 识 (knowledge) = the kind of knowing that comes from having seen someone or something before.
Hear 认识 in real episodes
认识 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.
三，四个人打，可以认识新朋友。
Three: four people play, and you can make new friends.
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Example sentences
我不认识他。
Wǒ bú rènshi tā.
I don't know him.
spoken
认识你很高兴。
Rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng.
Nice to meet you.
neutral
你认识这个字吗？
Nǐ rènshi zhège zì ma?
Do you recognize this character?
neutral
我们去年认识的。
Wǒmen qùnián rènshi de.
We met last year.
spoken
Common phrases with 认识
Synonyms
Don't confuse 认识 with
Frequently asked questions
Related words from the same episodes
Acquire it by listening
Meet 认识 again — in real Chinese, at your level.
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