being unknown; not knowing
Only when written 不知
Refers to the state of something being unknown or the act of not knowing. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
The truth of the incident remains unknown.
Denotes a lack of knowledge or wisdom; can imply foolishness. Used in formal or literary settings.
I made a mistake due to ignorance.
total illiteracy; complete inability to read
unaware of one's own actions; acting without realizing
daredevil; reckless; thinking nothing of one's death
Standard kanji form; used for both senses.
Alternate kanji form; less common and may be considered a variant.
Compound of 不 (fu, 'not') and 知 (chi, 'knowing'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of 'not knowing' or 'ignorance'.