Do you know Jacky Chan 成龙(Chénglóng)? I think you will answer: of course, everybody know him! How do you say that in Chinese? 我(wǒ)认识(rènshi)成龙(Chénglóng)? OMG, I wish I know him personally! If you just know him from his movies, you should say 我(wǒ)知道(zhīdao)成龙(Chénglóng)，但是(dànshì)我(wǒ)不(bù)认识(rènshi)他(tā). So let’s take a look at what are the difference between these two Chinese words, 知道(zhīdao) and 认识(rènshi).

我(wǒ)认识(rènshi)成龙(chénglóng) means you and Jacky Chan have met before and you know him personally. 

我(wǒ)知道(zhīdao)成龙(chénglóng) means you know Jacky Chan from his movie or any other resource, but you’ve never met him or know him in person. 

When talking about people, 认识(rènshi) means to know someone personally; 知道(zhīdao) means you heard about that person or you know who that person is.

Another example, if you are an audience of my podcast, you can say 我(wǒ)知道(zhīdao)Angela, 她(tā)是(shì)中文(zhōngwén)老师(lǎoshī)。I know Angela. She is a Chinese teacher.

And if you are student in my live class, you can say 我(wǒ)认识(rènshi)Angela, 她(tā)是(shì)我(wǒ)的(de)中文(zhōngwén)老师(lǎoshī). I know Angela. She is my Chinese teacher.

That’s why we say 认识(rènshi)你(nǐ)很(hěn)高兴(gāoxìng). Nice to meet you. When we meet someone at the first time. 

When taking about things, 认识(rènshi) is usually used for things or objects that can be seen, means recognize something; 知道(zhīdao) is usually used for knowledge, information or fact. 

这(zhè)个(gè)汉字(hànzi)你(nǐ)认识(rènshi)吗(ma)？Do you know this character? 

我(wǒ)认识(rènshi)，这(zhè)个(gè)字(zì)是(shì)大(dà)。I know. It’s 大(dà).

Here is asking for a character and check if you can recognize it. So I use 认识(rènshi). But if you want to check if someone know the meaning of the character, you should use 知道(zhīdao).

这(zhè)个(gè)汉字(hànzi)是(shì)什么(shénme)意思(yìsi), 你(nǐ)知道(zhīdao)吗(ma)？What’s the meaning of this character? Do you know?

我(wǒ)不(bù)知道(zhīdao). I don’t know.

Another example, you want to confirm if your friend know how to get to the airport.You can say:

你(nǐ)认识(rènshi)去(qù)机场(jīchǎng)的(de)路(lù)吗(ma)？Do you know the way to the airport? Meaning can you recognize and distinguish the road to the airport.

Or you can say:

你(nǐ)知道(zhīdao)怎么(zěnme)去(qù)机场(jīchǎng)吗(ma)？Do you know how to get to the airport? Meaning do you have the knowledge and information about how to get to the airport.

Alright, do you know the difference between the two words now？现在(xiànzài)你(nǐ)知道(zhīdao)“认识(rènshi)”和(hé)“知道(zhīdao)”有(yǒu)什么(shénme)不(bù)同(tóng)了(le)吗(ma)？

Leave a comment and let me know if there is any other Chinese word or topic you want to learn! 

If you want to learn Chinese systematically with our BLCU teachers, we have online courses for general Chinese, business Chinese, HSK and also Chinese for kids. Check our website www.eblcu.com for details.