Recognize 知 in words such as 知る and 知識; connect each complete word with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 知る (しる) and 知識 (ちしき). 知 has 8 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
知るしるknow; learn
知識ちしきknowledge
知人ちじんacquaintance

Examples

  • 田中たなかさんを知しっていますか。Do you know Tanaka?
  • その住所じゅうしょは知しりません。I do not know that address.
  • 日本にほんの歴史れきしの知識ちしきがあります。I have knowledge of Japanese history.
  • この本ほんで知識ちしきを増ふやします。I increase my knowledge with this book.
  • 知人ちじんに駅えきで会あいました。I met an acquaintance at the station.
  • その知人ちじんは先生せんせいです。That acquaintance is a teacher.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

知る (しる) means know; learn; 知識 (ちしき) means knowledge. Learn the reading with the whole word. 知っています expresses knowing; the usual polite negative is 知りません, not 知っていません. Compare the indicated parts of 知 and 和: 矢 and 禾.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 知る in hiragana.

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    しる

    知る is read しる and means know; learn. Remember the reading of the whole word.

  2. Write the reading of 知識 in hiragana.

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    ちしき

    知識 is read ちしき and means knowledge. Remember the reading of the whole word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿人（ちじん）.

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    知

    知 completes 知人, read ちじん; the completed word means acquaintance.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 知 from memory, and read 知る and 知識 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.