The rule: people and skills → 識 (sik1); facts and news → 知 (zi1). English uses one word for both — I know him and I know the answer. Cantonese splits them: 我識佢 vs 我知答案. Pick the wrong one and you say "I am acquainted with the answer".
| 識 | 知 | |
|---|---|---|
| Jyutping | sik1 (tone 1, high flat) | zi1 (tone 1, high flat) |
| Job | Acquaintance + ability — know (sb), can | Facts — know (that), be aware |
| Connects to | A person, place, or verb | A clause, answer, or piece of news |
| Negative | 唔識 (m4 sik1) | 唔知 (m4 zi1) |
| Situation | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "I know him" | 我識佢 | A person — 識 |
| "I know (that fact)" | 我知 | A fact — 知 |
| "He can speak Cantonese" | 佢識講廣東話 | A skill — 識 + verb |
| "Do you know he left?" | 你知唔知佢走咗 | News — 知 |
| "I can't swim" | 我唔識游水 | Lacking a skill — 唔識 |
| "I don't know where he went" | 唔知佢去咗邊 | Missing fact — 唔知 |
Saying 我知佢 for "I know him" — it sounds like "I know of him / I know about it". If you could shake its hand, it takes 識. Drill the pair: 識人 / 知事 — know people, know things.
More learner answers on the FAQ page; other classic mix-ups: 唔該 vs 多謝, 係 vs 喺; head-to-head dictionary picks on best Cantonese dictionary.
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