When do you use 知道 vs 認識 when discussing when you know someone or some thing?

Question

When you meet someone you're supposed to use 認識 as in 很高興知道你, but someone said you can also use 知道 when talking about people or places.

For example, "I know that place" or "I know that person."

When discussing whether you know some person or some place (e.g., restaurant), what are the rules governing when you should use 知道 or 認識?

@TangHo thanks, cannot read simplified so didn't know it was a dupe. :) so the same rules apply for people or places? i.e., if i have been to a place should use 認識 but if i only have heard of it i should use 知道? — Crashalot, Jul 10 '17 at 19:53
yes, you can 認識 a person or 認識 a place; you can also 知道 a person or 知道 a place-- both 'a person' and 'a place' can be the object in a sentence — Tang Ho, Jul 10 '17 at 19:56
識得 is more common than 認識 for 'know a place'' . Also, there are difference between 認得一個地方 (recognize a place) and 識得一個地方(I know a place). — Tang Ho, Jul 10 '17 at 20:08
認識一個地方 means ' to know a place'
識得一個地方 means ' know a place' — Tang Ho, Jul 10 '17 at 20:10
認識 means you had seen it or you had reached there in past. 知道 means you know he/it (you heard him by newspapers/from others, but haven't seen him). — Daniel Yang, Aug 02 '17 at 02:24
Usually a foreign language learner sees the language he learns in a much different perspective than the native speaker of that language. So it is not easy to give you the proper answer. I can only say that after you read a lot in that language you will find the difference and know how to use them properly. — NanningYouth, Jul 11 '17 at 12:54

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 14 '20 at 01:25

2

Normally we use 认识 when we say: I know this person. And we use 知道 when we say: I know this place.

知道 vs 认识:

You can check this Hanbridge Chinese video about how to differentiate the 知道 and 认识.

edited Oct 14 '20 at 01:25

Becky 李蓓

answered Jul 12 '17 at 06:20

katherine li

1

Nice explanation. Just one comment, 认识 can also be used on places. For example, A：你认识这个地方吗？(Do you know this place?) B：认识，我以前来过这里。(Yes, I've been here before.) – Xiang Zhao Jul 21 '17 at 17:52

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 21 '17 at 14:38

知道 means you have idea about something.

认识 means you have seen something, so you can recognize it.

So I 知道 president Trump, But I don't 认识 him. (in life)

And I 知道 White House, and I won't say I 认识 it or not. Because I have never been there, it does not make too much sense only seen it in photo.

2 Answers2