How to Say ‘Know’ in Japanese
知っています
shitsu te i masu
[sheet teh ee mahs]
💬 Usage Tip: [知っています] means 'know.' It is the polite present form. Useful for facts, people, and companies.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese often uses [知っていますか] to ask 'Do you know...?' about famous brands, songs, or places.
Phrase Breakdown
知っ
shitsu
[sheet]
know
This stem comes from 知る, 'to know.' In 知っています, it expresses knowing information or being familiar with something.
私はトヨタを知っています。
I know Toyota.
て
te
[teh]
and; te-form connector
This is the て-form connector. In 知っています, it links the verb stem to います to form the progressive/state expression.
知っているので、ホンダも知っています。
Since I know it, I also know Honda.
い
i
[ee]
to be; ongoing state part
Here い is part of います. In 知っています, it helps show a continuing state: 'to know.'
私は日産の名前を知っています。
I know Nissan's name.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending used in present/future affirmative verb forms.
先生もマツダを知っています。
The teacher also knows Mazda.
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