知っています
shitte imasu
The English phrase "I know that" is expressed in Japanese as 知っています (shitte imasu).
A phrase used to state that you have specific information or knowledge about something.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 知っています uses the ~te imasu form to indicate a continuous state of knowing. Note that while the dictionary form shiru exists, it is not used to mean "I know" in this context. Instead, the ~te imasu form expresses the state.
How do you pronounce it?
shitte imasu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the dictionary form shiru to mean "I know". In Japanese, the state of knowing is expressed with the ~te imasu form.
Did you know?
- Japanese has a separate word, 分かります, for knowing something through understanding or logic. If you 'know' a mathematical formula, 知っています would sound like you simply recognize its existence, not that you understand it.
- Using 知っています in response to a superior can sometimes sound slightly confrontational or arrogant, as if you are correcting them. In polite business settings, people often use softer phrases to avoid sounding too direct.
- If you want to say 'I know' in a very casual setting with friends, you would drop the polite ending to say shitteru, which effectively omits the 'i' sound in speech.
Examples in context
- その話は知っています。I know that story.This sentence is useful for saying you know a specific story using 知っています.Tatoeba #206034 by small_snow, translation #4500091 by CK
- トムが泳げることは知っています。I know that Tom can swim.This sentence is useful for stating you know a fact about someone's ability using 知っています.Tatoeba #9462818 by small_snow, translation #6350380 by CK
- マルコが病気だった事は知っています。I know that Marco has been sick.This sentence is useful for stating you know about someone's illness using 知っています.Tatoeba #811770 by arihato, translation #808517 by Zifre
- 私はそのことを知っています。I know that.
- その件については理解しています。I understand that matter.
- 分かってるよ。I know (casual).
- 分かってるよね?You know, right?
- それ、知ってるよ。I know that (casual).
- そのことを知っています。I know that (polite).
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about a new cafe in town.
- 美咲 Misakiあそこにおしゃれなカフェができるって知っていますか？Asoko ni oshare na kafe ga dekiru tte shitte imasu ka?Do you know that a stylish cafe is opening over there?
- 蓮 Renはい、そのニュースは知っています。Hai, sono nyuusu wa shitte imasu.Yes, I know that news.
- 美咲 Misaki本当ですか？いつオープンするか知っていますか？Hontou desu ka? Itsu oopun suru ka shitte imasu ka?Really? Do you know when it opens?
- 蓮 Renいいえ、そこまでは知っていません。Iie, soko made wa shitte imasen.No, I don't know that much.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
