知らない
shiranai
shiranai is the Japanese phrase for 'I don't know'.
You can use 知らない to state that you lack a specific piece of information or that you are not acquainted with a particular person.
Which one should you use?
While 知らない means 'I don't know', using it in a blunt tone can sound dismissive or even rude, similar to saying 'I don't care' in English. Adding the particle よ to the end to form 知らないよ makes the statement sound more like a conversational clarification rather than a blunt rejection.
Did you know?
- While shiranai is used for facts, Japanese uses a different word, shiranai's counterpart wakaranai, for things that cannot be understood or figured out.
- Depending on the pitch and context, shiranai can be used as a rhetorical question to express disbelief, similar to saying 'You've got to be kidding me' in English.
- In certain contexts, saying shiranai can function as a way to dodge responsibility, effectively meaning 'it is not my problem' or 'I have nothing to do with this'.
Examples in context
- 申し訳ありませんが、その情報を知りません。I'm sorry, but I don't know that information.
- すみません、その答えは分かりません。I'm sorry, I don't know the answer.
- それについては、全く知らない。I have absolutely no idea about that.
- そのニュースは知らない。Sono nyūsu wa shiranai.I don't know that news.
- 彼の名前は知らない。Kare no namae wa shiranai.I don't know his name.
- そんなことは知らないよ。Sonna koto wa shiranai yo.I don't know about such things.
Example conversation
A conversation between two friends about a mutual acquaintance.
- 結衣 Yui田中さんの電話番号を知ってる？Tanaka-san no denwa bangō o shitteru?Do you know Tanaka's phone number?
- 大翔 Hirotoごめん、知らない。Gomen, shiranai.Sorry, I don't know.
- 結衣 Yuiそうなんだ。残念。Sō nan da. Zannen.I see. That's too bad.
- 大翔 Hiroto誰かに聞いてみるね。Dareka ni kiite miru ne.I'll try asking someone.
