知 Stroke Order — How to Write 知
知 is written in 8 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 矢, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
知 Radical and Character Components
知 is a phono-semantic compound: 口 (mouth) carries the meaning, while 矢 indicates the sound.
Radical: 矢 + 3 more strokes
知 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- zhī
- zhì
Meanings of 知 in Chinese
1
zhī知
To know, to be aware of, to perceive, to understand.
老师常说，学习要温故知新，才能不断进步。
Our teacher often says that to make continuous progress, we must review the old and learn the new.
to inform; to let know; to notify
请知悉此项调整。
Please be informed of this adjustment.
Refers to knowledge, learning, or awareness. Often used in compound words like 'knowledge' (知识), 'to seek knowledge' (求知), or 'ignorant' (无知).
我们应该不断学习新知识，以适应时代的变化。
We should continuously learn new knowledge to adapt to the changes of the times.
To be in charge of; to preside over (historically, used in titles of local officials such as 'magistrate' or 'prefect'; also refers to a person in charge of hospitality, 'director of guests').
他曾担任过一任知县，为当地百姓做了不少实事。
He once served as a county magistrate, doing many practical things for the local people.
To know or understand each other well; to be close friends or confidants.
他俩是多年的知音，总是能理解对方的心情。
They have been soulmates for many years, always able to understand each other's feelings.
An acquaintance or a friend, especially an old friend.
和故知重逢，我们聊得很开心。
Reuniting with old friends, we had a delightful chat.
2
zhì知
Wisdom; intelligence (same as 智)
他的见解富有真知灼见，令人敬佩。
His insights are full of true wisdom and deep understanding, which is admirable.
Common Words and Phrases with 知
1
2
To know the inside story, the full details, or the true situation of something or someone.
我们是多年的同事，彼此之间知底得很，有什么话都直说。
We have been colleagues for many years and know each other very well, so we speak openly about everything.
3
To be grateful for kindness and to repay it.
我们应该常怀感恩之心，知恩报恩，这才是做人的根本。
We should always maintain a grateful heart, acknowledging kindness and repaying it; this is the fundamental principle of being a person.
4
to knowingly or deliberately break the law
一些商家为了追求利润，知法犯法，销售假冒伪劣产品，最终受到了法律的制裁。
Some businesses, in pursuit of profit, knowingly broke the law by selling counterfeit and shoddy products, and ultimately faced legal sanctions.
5
Magistrate of a prefecture in ancient China, especially from the Ming Dynasty onwards.
清廉的知府深受百姓爱戴。
The incorruptible prefect was deeply loved by the common people.
6
to know someone or something inside out
他们是多年的老同事，彼此知根知底，合作起来非常默契。
They have been old colleagues for many years, knowing each other inside out, and they cooperate very well.
7
Always correct an error when one becomes aware of it.
学习过程中，难免会犯错，关键在于知过必改。
It's inevitable to make mistakes during the learning process; the key is to correct them as soon as they are known.
8
an intimate friend or bosom friend
他是我多年的知己，总能在我需要的时候给予我支持和理解。
He has been my soulmate for many years, always offering me support and understanding when I need it.
9
Know yourself and your enemy.
在制定新的市场推广计划时，我们必须知己知彼，才能确保方案的有效性和竞争力。
When developing a new market promotion plan, we must know ourselves and our competitors thoroughly to ensure the plan's effectiveness and competitiveness.
10
Consciousness; perception.
他在晕倒后失去知觉，直到被扶起来才慢慢恢复。
He lost consciousness after fainting and slowly recovered only when he was helped up.
11
Cicada
夏天的傍晚，知了在树上不停地鸣叫，给炎热的天气增添了一丝生机。
In the summer evening, cicadas keep chirping on the trees, adding a touch of vitality to the hot weather.
12
To understand the principle of analogy or inference; to know how to make inferences.
他学习很快，一点就通，很有知类的能力。
He learns quickly, grasps things immediately, and has a strong ability to reason by analogy.
13
To be thoughtful and attentive to someone's needs and well-being.
她对父母总是知冷知热，嘘寒问暖，照顾得无微不至。
She is always considerate and attentive to her parents' needs, asking about their comfort and providing meticulous care.
14
15
to know one's destiny or fate; refers to the age of fifty (as in 'fifty and knowing the decrees of Heaven' from Confucius)
他的人生经历让他对世事有了更深刻的理解，逐渐学会了知命而乐
His life experiences have given him a deeper understanding of worldly affairs, and he has gradually learned to accept his fate and find joy in it.
16
to press forward in the face of difficulties
面对复杂的科研挑战，他没有选择放弃，而是知难而进，最终突破了技术瓶颈。
Facing complex scientific research challenges, he did not choose to give up; instead, he pressed forward despite the difficulties, ultimately breaking through the technical bottleneck.
More words with 知
- huò获zhī知be informed, learn
- xū须zhī知Notice, Points to Note
- yǐ已zhī知shù数A known number; a given quantity.
- shū殊bù不zhī知little did one realize, little do they know
- xiàn县zhī知shì事County Governor, Prefect
- zhī知shi识knowledge, learning
- bù不zhī知don't know, unaware
- gào告zhī知inform, notify
- shēn深zhī知Know full well, Be well aware of
- tōng通zhī知notice, notification
- wèi未zhī知unknown, unidentified
- gǎn感zhī知Perception, Sense
- míng明zhī知know full well, be fully aware
- qiú求zhī知seeking knowledge, thirst for knowledge
- rèn认zhī知Cognition, Perception
- wú无zhī知Ignorance, Ignorant
- yǐ已zhī知known, given
- zhī知mǔ母Anemarrhena, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae
- zhī知xī悉Noted, Understood
- zhī知xiàn县county magistrate, magistrate
Idioms with 知
- zhī知bái白shǒu守hēi黑Know right, feign ignorance
- zhī知bǐ彼zhī知jǐ己know yourself and your enemy
- zhī知cuò错jiù就gǎi改correct mistakes immediately
- zhī知mìng命bù不yōu忧Know fate, have no worries
- zhī知mìng命zhī之nián年age of knowing and accepting one's destiny
- zhī知nán难ér而tuì退know when to withdraw
- zhī知qíng情bù不bào报know but not report
- zhī知qíng情bù不jǔ举know but not report
- zhī知qíng情dá达lǐ理sensible and reasonable
- zhī知rén人lùn论shì世understand people and their historical context
- zhī知rén人shàn善rèn任know people and assign them to suitable posts
- zhī知rén人zhī之míng明discerning insight into people
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Open the tool →Questions about 知
What does 知 mean in Chinese?
知 (zhī) means “To know” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 知?
知 has 2 pronunciations: zhī, zhì.
How many strokes does 知 have?
知 has 8 strokes.
How do you write 知?
知 is written in 8 strokes, starting from the radical 矢. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 知?
The radical of 知 is 矢, and 知 is a phono-semantic compound.