认识
to know (a person); to recognize
rènshi
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 breakdown
to recognize; to admit
to know; knowledge
Memory hook: 认 (recognize) + 识 (knowledge) = the kind of knowing that comes from having seen someone or something before.
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
Hear it in real Fluentide episodes
认识 appears in 1 podcast episode at natural native speed, with full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.