Meanings of 不知
By ear
Play it, then pick what 不知 means.
About 不知
Podcast: 不知
Podcast: 不知
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 不知
不懂 (bù dǒng) - use 不知 when expressing a general lack of knowledge or awareness, while 不懂 specifically indicates a lack of understanding or comprehension.
Learners often confuse 不知 with other phrases like 没有 (méiyǒu) which means 'not have.' It's important to remember that 不知 specifically refers to the state of not knowing something. The word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tone; the first syllable, 不, should be pronounced with a falling tone.
不知 is not currently an HSK vocabulary word, but it connects to HSK Level 2 words like 知道 (zhīdào), which means 'to know.' Students should focus on the contrast between 不知 and 知道 to deepen their understanding of knowledge states in Mandarin.
Learners often confuse 不知 with 知道, using them interchangeably, such as saying '我不知' (wǒ bù zhī) when they mean 'I do not know' in a casual context. The correct and more common phrase is '我不知道' (wǒ bù zhī dào).
Pronunciation of 不知
Drill the tone of 不知, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 不知 to you
Let me explain 不知 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 不知 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 不知?
Learning Lab
Knowing 不知 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Component characters
How to say not to know in Chinese
“not to know” in Chinese is不知
不知 (bù zhī) means 'not to know' or 'unaware.' It is commonly used to express a lack of knowledge about something, either in a literal sense or figuratively, such as not admitting defeat or hardships. The nuance often implies a sense of ignorance or unawareness in various contexts.
When to use 不知
Learners often confuse 不知 with other phrases like 没有 (méiyǒu) which means 'not have.' It's important to remember that 不知 specifically refers to the state of not knowing something. The word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tone; the first syllable, 不, should be pronounced with a falling tone.
不知 or something close to it
不懂 (bù dǒng) - use 不知 when expressing a general lack of knowledge or awareness, while 不懂 specifically indicates a lack of understanding or comprehension.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 不知 with 知道, using them interchangeably, such as saying '我不知' (wǒ bù zhī) when they mean 'I do not know' in a casual context. The correct and more common phrase is '我不知道' (wǒ bù zhī dào).
Write 不知
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 不知 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 不知?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Frequently asked questions about 不知
Yes, 不知 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it may sound more literary or poetic in formal writing.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 不知?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.