Chinese Verb "知道" (zhīdào)

to know (a fact)

Mental verb

Basic Usage

Basic

Subject + 知道 + content

我知道了。

Wǒ zhīdào le.

I know. / I see.

Completed Action (了 (le))

Found out

Subject + 知道 + 了 + content

我昨天才知道这件事。

Wǒ zuótiān cái zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.

I only found out about this yesterday.

Experience (过 (guò))

Experience

知道 with past context

他以前就知道了。

Tā yǐqián jiù zhīdào le.

He already knew before.

Ongoing Action (在/着)

Current state

知道 is a state verb

大家都知道这件事。

Dàjiā dōu zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.

Everyone knows about this.

Future / Intent (会/要/想)

Future with 会

Subject + 会 + 知道

你以后会知道的。

Nǐ yǐhòu huì zhīdào de.

You will know later.

Negation (不/没)

Negative with 不

Subject + 不知道 + content

我不知道他在哪儿。

Wǒ bù zhīdào tā zài nǎr.

I don't know where he is.

Common Compounds & Related Words

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
知道	zhīdào	to know
知识	zhīshi	knowledge
不知不觉	bù zhī bù jué	unknowingly

Example Sentences

你知道怎么去吗？

Nǐ zhīdào zěnme qù ma?

Do you know how to get there?

谁知道呢？

Shéi zhīdào ne?

Who knows?

我不知道该怎么办。

Wǒ bù zhīdào gāi zěnme bàn.

I don't know what to do.