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Kotomora

知

know, wisdom

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 500Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • チ

Kun'yomi

  • し.る
  • し.らせる

Nanori

  • さと
  • さとる
  • しり
  • しれ
  • とも
  • のり

Meaning

知 centers on having knowledge or understanding: knowing facts, possessing wisdom, and being aware.

Most common words using 知

24 of 669
  • 知るしる
    N5

    to know; to be aware (of); to be conscious (of); to learn (of); to find out; to discover

  • 知れるしれる
    N1

    to become known; to come to light; to be discovered

  • 知識ちしき
    N3

    knowledge; information

  • 知り合いしりあい
    N3

    acquaintance

  • 認知にんち

    acknowledgement; acknowledgment; recognition; cognition

  • 通知つうち
    N3

    notice; notification; report; posting

  • 知事ちじ
    N3

    prefectural governor

  • 告知こくち
    N1

    notice; notification; announcement; disclosure; declaration

  • 知的ちてき
    N1

    intellectual

  • ご存知ごぞんじ
    N4

    knowing; being aware (of)

  • 知恵ちえ
    N3

    wisdom; wit; sagacity; sense; intelligence

  • 知能ちのう
    N3

    intelligence; intellect; brains

  • 承知しょうち
    N3

    knowledge; awareness

  • 知人ちじん
    N3

    friend; acquaintance

  • 知性ちせい
    N1

    intelligence

  • 知らせしらせ
    N3

    news; word; tidings; notice; notification; information

  • 未知みち
    N1

    not yet known; unknown; strange

  • 無知むち
    N1

    ignorance; innocence; stupidity

  • 見知らぬみしらぬ
    N2

    strange; unfamiliar; unknown

  • 県知事けんちじ

    prefectural governor

  • 周知しゅうち

    common knowledge; being well-known; making (something) well-known

  • 探知たんち

    detection

  • 予知よち
    N1

    foresight; foreknowledge; intimation; premonition; prediction

  • 知らせるしらせる
    N4

    to notify; to advise; to inform

Explore all words using 知 →

Study

Etymology

知 combines 矢 (arrow) and 口 (mouth), likely suggesting swift or precise speech as a metaphor for knowledge. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

An arrow 矢 flying from a mouth 口 represents knowledge being shared quickly and accurately. When you know something, you can speak it as fast as an arrow.

Reading mnemonic

For チ, imagine a wise person pointing at their cheek while sharing knowledge: cheek -> チ, and the wisdom comes from their mouth.