Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …を知っている | …o shitte iru |
| …に精通している | …ni seitsū shite iru |
The phrase is used to express being acquainted with or familiar with something.
Which one should you use?
…を知っている is used to describe a continuous state of knowing. This contrasts with …を知る (…o shiru), which describes the single moment of learning or finding out something. Additionally, …に精通している is used specifically when you are well-versed or highly knowledgeable in a particular field or subject.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal expression of being highly knowledgeable or well-versed in a subject, use …に精通している.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase …を知っている uses the te-iru form of the verb shiru to indicate the continuous state of knowing.
How do you pronounce it?
…o shitte iru
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the dictionary form …を知る to mean "I know." In Japanese, this sounds like the specific moment of discovery or finding out something, rather than describing the ongoing state of being acquainted with it.
Did you know?
- In polite conversation, instead of saying 'I know' (知っています), Japanese speakers often use a humble form or a phrase like 存じております ('zonjite orimasu') to avoid sounding arrogant.
- When answering a question with 'I don't know', Japanese speakers often use 知りません ('shirimasen'). However, in certain contexts, this can sound cold or dismissive, as if the speaker is refusing to be helpful.
- The word 精通 (seitsū) in the phrase …に精通している literally contains the characters for 'well' and 'through', implying that your knowledge has 'passed through' or permeated the entire subject.
Examples in context
- 私はその事実を知っています。I know that fact.
- 彼女は歴史に関する豊富な知識があります。She has extensive knowledge about history.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “know” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
