ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

to know

zhī
8 strokes · 矢 (arrow) + 口 (mouth) — words that fly straight as arrows · HSK 2

Where 知 comes from

知 joins an arrow 矢 with a mouth 口: knowledge is speech that hits the mark — swift, direct, on target. To know is to be able to answer like an arrow flies.

知 in Chinese culture

知 is knowing itself: 知道 (to know — 'know the way'), 知识 (knowledge), 知己 ('one who knows me' — the soulmate-friend, rarer than gold in classical poetry). This app's Chinese name 知止 borrows Laozi: 知止不殆 — 'knowing when to stop, one avoids danger'. To know facts is 知道; to know when enough is enough is wisdom.

Example

知道 zhīdào — to know

我不知道他的名字。
Wǒ bù zhīdào tā de míngzi.
I don't know his name.

How to remember it

Answers that fly from the mouth 口 straight as arrows 矢 — to KNOW.

知己 'one-who-knows-me' — classical Chinese friendship's highest title. 人生得一知己足矣: one true knower in a lifetime is enough.

Same sound, different tones

1st zhī
to know
2nd zhí
straight
3rd zhǐ
paper

Words unlocked by 知

知道 zhīdào
to know
知识 zhīshi
knowledge
知己 zhījǐ
intimate friend
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One character a morning · 169-character HSK library · iOS