Japanese dictionary
How to say "know" in Japanese
知っているしっている · shitte iru
To "know" in Japanese is 知っている (shitte iru). "I don't know" is 知りません (shirimasen) or, more softly, わかりません (wakarimasen).
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Ways to say "know" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 知っているしっている · shitte iru | To know. |
| わかるわかる · wakaru | To know; to understand. |
| ご存じごぞんじ · gozonji | To know (honorific, for others). |
| 存じるぞんじる · zonjiru | To know (humble, for yourself). |
How to use it
Careful: "I know" is 知っています, but "I don't know" is 知りません, not 知っていません.
To a client, "Do you know...?" is ご存じですか (gozonji desu ka).
Example sentences
- 田中さんを知っていますか。Tanaka-san o shitte imasu ka.Do you know Mr. Tanaka?
- すみません、わかりません。Sumimasen, wakarimasen.Sorry, I don't know.
- その店なら知っています。Sono mise nara shitte imasu.I know that restaurant.
- この件はご存じですか。Kono ken wa gozonji desu ka.Are you aware of this matter?
- 存じております。Zonjite orimasu.Yes, I'm aware.
- 知らない人についていかないでください。Shiranai hito ni tsuite ikanaide kudasai.Don't go with people you don't know.
Kanji in this word
Questions
Why is "I don't know" 知りません and not 知っていません?
知る works differently: the positive is 知っています (I know), but the negative is 知りません (I don't know).
Is 知りません rude?
It can sound blunt. わかりません (wakarimasen, I'm not sure) is softer and more common when answering questions.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.