捌
bā/pä⁵⁵/
In Chinese, the phrase 'know' can be translated using different terms depending on the dialect and the type of knowledge being expressed. The default form is 捌 (bā). Wiktionary also lists 認識 / 认识 (rènshi).
Meaning: be acquainted or familiar with (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 捌 | bā | /pä⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) | |
| 認識 / 认识 | rènshi | ||
| 捌 | pat | /pueʔ⁵/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Quanzhou, Taipei, Xiamen, Sinological IPA) /pueʔ³²/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Quanzhou, Taipei, Xiamen, Sinological IPA) |
Hokkien |
To use this phrase to mean being acquainted or familiar with someone or something, you can use 認識 / 认识 or the Hokkien term 捌. For example, the formal term 了解 (liǎo jiě) indicates a deeper understanding or comprehension of a subject, often through study or research. In informal conversations, 晓得 (xiǎo de) is a colloquial alternative to 知道 (zhī dào).
Which one should you use?
The Mandarin form 認識 / 认识 is used specifically for being acquainted with people or recognizing written characters, whereas other Chinese words for 'know' might refer to factual knowledge.
Is it said differently in some regions?
捌 is a Hokkien dialect term used to express knowing or being acquainted with someone or something.
How do you pronounce it?
The word 捌 is pronounced as pat (/pä⁵⁵/).
Did you know?
- The term 捌 may have been influenced by an Austroasiatic substrate, connecting it to Proto-Hmong-Mien words for 'understand' or 'know'.
- Although the character 捌 looks like the number 'eight' in its complex financial form, in certain contexts it is a specific dialectal term for 'to know'.
Examples in context
- 捌字To know how to readThis sentence is useful for expressing the ability to read using 捌.
- 伓捌To not know (someone)This sentence is useful for saying one does not know someone using 捌.
- 𣍐捌字Do not know how to readThis sentence is useful for expressing the inability to read using 捌.
Example conversation
Zhiqiang is introducing a friend to Zihan.
- 志强 Zhiqiang妳捌這一個人嗎？Lí sa̍p chit-ê lâng–má?Do you know this person?
- 梓涵 Zihan我伓捌伊。Góa m̄-sa̍p i.I don't know him.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我想介紹妳捌佢。Góa siūnn kiat-sièu lí sa̍p kỳ.I want to introduce you to him.
- 梓涵 Zihan好，我想捌伊。Hó, góa siūnn sa̍p i.Okay, I'd like to get to know him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “know” translations and entries 捌, 捌, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 捌, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
