How common it is
认识 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say rèn shi slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
认识可以表示认得、知道，也可以表示第一次了解一个人。
rèn shi kě yǐ biǎo shì rèn de 、 zhī dào， yě kě yǐ biǎo shì dì yī cì liǎo jiě yí gè rén。
认识 can mean to recognize or know, and it can also mean meeting and getting to know a person for the first time.
Context note
认识常出现在介绍朋友、认字和见面的时候。
rèn shi cháng chū xiàn zài jiè shào péng yǒu 、 rèn zì hé jiàn miàn de shí hòu。
认识 often appears when introducing friends, recognizing characters, and meeting people.
5 examples
我认识这个字。
wǒ rèn shi zhè ge zì。
I recognize this character.
你认识他吗？
nǐ rèn shi tā ma？
Do you know him?
我认识新朋友。
wǒ rèn shi xīn péng yǒu。
I meet new friends.
老师认识我们。
lǎo shī rèn shi wǒ men。
The teacher knows us.
我刚认识她。
wǒ gāng rèn shi tā。
I just got to know her.
5 mini stories
今天我认识了新同学。他很礼貌。
jīn tiān wǒ rèn shi le xīn tóng xué。 tā hěn lǐ mào。
Today I got to know a new classmate. He is very polite.
老师问我认不认识这个字。我说我认识。
lǎo shī wèn wǒ rèn bu rèn shi zhè ge zì。 wǒ shuō wǒ rèn shi。
The teacher asked whether I recognized this character. I said I did.
我想认识更多朋友。这样我会更开心。
wǒ xiǎng rèn shi gèng duō péng yǒu。 zhè yàng wǒ huì gèng kāi xīn。
I want to get to know more friends. That will make me happier.
爸爸认识这位阿姨。他们以前是同事。
bà ba rèn shi zhè wèi ā yí。 tā men yǐ qián shì tóng shì。
Dad knows this auntie. They used to be coworkers.
我们在图书馆认识了。现在常常一起看书。
wǒ men zài tú shū guǎn rèn shi le。 xiàn zài cháng cháng yì qǐ kàn shū。
We met in the library. Now we often read together.