認 meaning and stroke order
To know, to recognize, to understand
How to write 認, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 認
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to recognize
- to know
- to admit
How 認 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
言 gives the meaning and 忍 hints at the sound.
Radical: 言 (words), shared by 155 characters on this site.
How to remember 認
認 combines 言 (speech) on the left with 忍 (rěn) on the right, which gives the sound. Picture someone speaking up to say "I know you" or "I admit it," since recognizing and admitting both involve words.
認 is the traditional form of 认, and it rarely stands alone. It appears in very common words like 認識 (rènshi, to know someone), 認為 (rènwéi, to think), and 承認 (chéngrèn, to admit). Example: 我認識他。(Wǒ rènshi tā.) I know him.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 認 (rèn, fourth tone) with its phonetic part 忍 (rěn, third tone, to endure), and forget the 言 side. Another trap is using 知道 (zhīdào) for knowing people, when Chinese uses 認識 for people and 知道 for facts.
Common words with 認
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 認識 | rènshi | to know; to recognize | HSK 1 |
| 認真 | rènzhēn | conscientious; earnest | HSK 1 |
| 認為 | rènwéi | to believe; to think; to consider; to feel | HSK 2 |
| 認得 | rènde | to recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it | HSK 3 |
| 否認 | fǒurèn | to declare to be untrue; to deny | HSK 3 |
| 認出 | rènchū | recognition; to recognize | HSK 3 |
| 認可 | rènkě | to approve; approval | HSK 3 |
| 承認 | chéngrèn | to admit; to concede | HSK 4 |
| 確認 | quèrèn | to confirm; to verify | HSK 4 |
| 認定 | rèndìng | to maintain (that sth is true); to determine (a fact) | HSK 5 |
| 公認 | gōngrèn | publicly known (to be); accepted (as) | HSK 5 |
| 認同 | rèntóng | to approve of; to endorse | HSK 6 |
| 認錯 | rèncuò | to admit an error; to acknowledge one's mistake | HSK 7-9 |
| 認知 | rènzhī | cognition; cognitive | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 認
How many strokes are in 認?
認 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 認 mean?
認 (rèn) means to know, to recognize, to understand. A common word with it is 认识 (rènshi), meaning "to know; to recognize".
How do you pronounce 認?
認 is pronounced rèn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 認?
The radical of 認 is 言, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 認 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 認?
認 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 认, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 認識 and 認得?
Both can mean to recognize or know. 認識 is the standard way to say you are acquainted with a person or can read a character. 認得 stresses being able to recognize something or someone on sight and sounds more colloquial.
How is 認真 different from the meaning of 認 alone?
認真 (rènzhēn) means conscientious or earnest, describing someone who takes things seriously. The meaning shifts from recognizing to treating something as real and important, so it is best learned as its own word.