How to Write 知 (zhī) — Meaning “to know; to realize; knowledge”

Q: What is a good memory trick to remember 知?

Imagine an arrow (矢) hitting a target that is a mouth (口), and the mouth says 'I know!' because it was hit accurately. This picture helps you remember that 知 means 'to know'.

Q: How should I write 知 correctly, and what mistakes should I avoid?

When writing 知, note that the last stroke of 矢 becomes a dot (点) instead of a right-falling stroke (捺) to make space for 口. Keep the left side narrow and the right side 口 centered and balanced.

Q: What is the difference between 知 and similar characters like 矣 and 矦?

知 has 口 on the right, while 矣 has 厶 (private) on top and 矢 below, meaning a classical particle. 矦 has a person radical (亻) on the left and a different top, meaning an ancient title. Their appearances and meanings are all distinct.

Q: When and how is 知 used in modern Chinese?

知 is very common in words like 知道 (to know) and 知识 (knowledge). It appears in the famous saying '知之为知之' (to know is to know), teaching honesty about what you truly understand.

Q: What common words use 知?

Common words containing 知 include: 知道 (zhī dào) — To know; to understand.; 知识 (zhī shí) — Knowledge.; 通知 (tōng zhī) — Notice or to notify..

zhī HSK Level 1 8 strokes Radical: 矢

知 (zhī) means "to know; to realize; knowledge" in Chinese. It has 8 strokes with the radical 矢, and is HSK Level 1.

Rated 3.2/5 in difficulty (challenging).

Harder than 69% of HSK Level 1 characters.

Appears in 3+ common words including 知道 (zhī dào), 知识 (zhī shí), 通知 (tōng zhī).

Due to its 8 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 知 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Practice Writing 知 (zhī)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 知 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 知

The character 知 (zhī) is written with 8 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 矢 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does zhī (知) Mean in Chinese?

知 means to know; to realize; knowledge.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 知 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Character Data

Character	知
Pinyin	zhī (zhi)
Meaning	to know; to realize; knowledge
Strokes	8
Radical	矢
HSK Level	1
Difficulty	3.2/5

Origin of 知

知 combines 矢 (arrow) and 口 (mouth). The arrow represents hitting a target, and the mouth represents speech or expression; together, they convey the idea of words that hit the mark—knowing or understanding something accurately.

💡 Memory Tip: Imagine an arrow (矢) flying straight into an open mouth (口), instantly delivering knowledge to the mind.

Common Words with 知

知道 zhī dào

To know; to understand.

知识 zhī shí

Knowledge.

通知 tōng zhī

Notice or to notify.

Example Sentences

你知道他在哪儿吗？

nǐ zhī dào tā zài nǎ ér ma

Do you know where he is?

老师教给我们知识。

lǎo shī jiāo gěi wǒ men zhī shí

The teacher imparts knowledge to us.

请大家看这个通知。

qǐng dà jiā kàn zhè ge tōng zhī

Everyone, please look at this notice.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
知 (current)	zhī	8	矢
矣	yǐ	7	矢
矦	hóu	9	矢
矧	shěn	9	矢

Practice Writing 知 (zhī)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 知 with real-time feedback.

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

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Frequently Asked Questions about 知

What are the components of 知 and how do they relate to its meaning?

知 is made of two parts: the left side is 矢 (arrow) and the right side is 口 (mouth). Together, they suggest the idea of speaking with the precision of an arrow, which represents knowledge or knowing.

What is a good memory trick to remember 知?

How should I write 知 correctly, and what mistakes should I avoid?

What is the difference between 知 and similar characters like 矣 and 矦?

When and how is 知 used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 知?

How to Write 知 (zhī) — Meaning “to know; to realize; knowledge”

Practice Writing 知 (zhī)

How to Write 知

What Does zhī (知) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 知

Common Words with 知

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 知 (zhī)

Frequently Asked Questions about 知

More HSK Level 1 Characters

Characters with Radical 矢

Other 8-Stroke Characters