知

zhī

口 + 矢

Frequency#123

Definitions

zhī (verb) to know; to be aware

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 矢 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 矢

About

The character 知 is structurally composed of 矢 (arrow) and 口 (mouth), suggesting an original conceptual link to swift or direct verbal expression. Etymologically, this association with active communication gradually shifted toward cognitive awareness, with the character's meaning evolving from early senses of "to tell" or "to inform" to primarily denote "to know" or "to have knowledge". This transition refined its role in representing intellectual comprehension, anchoring it within the semantic field of knowledge and understanding in modern usage.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我知道这件事。

Wǒ zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.

I know about this matter.

他不知怎么回答。

Tā bù zhī zěnme huídá.

He doesn't know how to reply.

学习知识很重要。

Xuéxí zhīshì hěn zhòngyào.

Learning knowledge is very important.

请通知我会议时间。

Qǐng tōngzhī wǒ huìyì shíjiān.

Please inform me of the meeting time.

我深知自己的责任重大。

Wǒ shēn zhī zìjǐ de zérèn zhòngdà.

I am deeply aware that my responsibility is significant.

请告知您的详细地址。

Qǐng gàozhī nín de xiángxì dìzhǐ.

Please tell me your detailed address.

人类很难预知未来。

Rénlèi hěn nán yùzhī wèilái.

It is very difficult for humans to predict the future.

他已知晓事情的所有细节。

Tā yǐ zhīxiǎo shìqíng de suǒyǒu xìjié.

He already knows all the details of the matter.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 口

Component: 矢

知