Kanji 識 discriminating, know, write Related words 博識 is a more formal, literary word for extensive learning, while 物知り is the everyday term for a person who knows a lot about many things.
生き字引 is a vivid idiom meaning 'a living dictionary,' used for someone whose knowledge is so vast people consult them like a reference book, while 物知り is the plain, general word for a knowledgeable person.
物知り plainly means a knowledgeable person, while figurative 雀 adds a nuance of gossipy, insider chatter.
博学 is a formal, academic term for erudition, whereas 物知り is a casual way to describe someone who just knows a lot of things.
物知り is a casual way to call someone a 'know-it-all' about many topics, while 博士 (はかせ ) suggests deep expertise in a specific subject.
Written forms 物もの 知し り Usage 68%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news ranking.
もの 知し り Usage 21%
search-only kanji form
Search-only mixed kanji-kana form; not a standard spelling.
ものしり Usage 9%
物もの 識し り Usage 3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 識 carries a nuance of 'discernment' but is not common in modern writing.
Etymology Compound of 物 (thing) and 知り (knowing), from the verb 知る . The literal sense is 'knowing things', which developed into a noun for a person with broad knowledge.
Report an issue with this page
Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
