知道 (zhīdào)

知道 is one of the most common verbs in Chinese, meaning to know or be aware of a fact, situation, or piece of information.

Meanings

[verb] to know, to be aware of, to realize

Example Sentences

你知道他住在哪里吗？ Nǐ zhīdào tā zhù zài nǎlǐ ma? Do you know where he lives?

我不知道这件事。 Wǒ bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì. I don't know about this matter.

她知道自己做错了。 Tā zhīdào zìjǐ zuò cuò le. She knows she made a mistake.

我刚刚知道这个好消息。 Wǒ gānggāng zhīdào zhège hǎo xiāoxi. I just found out about this good news.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
不知道 (bù zhīdào)	don't know
知道了 (zhīdào le)	got it, I see, understood
让……知道 (ràng...zhīdào)	to let someone know
早就知道 (zǎo jiù zhīdào)	knew long ago

Usage Notes

知道 is used for factual knowledge (knowing that something is the case), while 认识 (rènshi) means to know a person or recognize something through familiarity. You cannot use 知道 for people: say 我认识他 (I know him), not 我知道他. The common response 知道了 (zhīdào le) means "understood" or "got it" in everyday conversation.

Memory Hook

知 means "know" and 道 means "way/path" — you have found the "path of knowing" when you 知道 something.