識 sik1 vs 知 zi1

 

 

To know about someone

For some situations, when you know about somebody, but you don’t really know he or she personally, you cannot use 識 sik1, instead, you need to use the word 知 zi1.

"I know who he is"
ngo5 zi1 keoi5 hai6 bin1 go3
我 知 佢係邊個

我知佢 ngo5 zi1 keoi5 – This is incorrect, please do not translate from English directly

To recognize someone

If you want to say you recognize someone, use 認得 jing6 dak1

"I recognize him"
ngo5 jing6 dak1 keoi5
我 認得 佢

To not be close to someone

To say that you are not very close to someone, you can say

"We are not very close"
ngo5 tung4 keoi5 m4 hai6 hou2 suk6
我同佢唔係好熟

Try it yourself

1. Go to Google Search and look for a photo of a celebrity. Do you know that person?
2. Pull out your phone, open a photo and tell yourself if you know the person.