认 meaning and stroke order
To recognize; to know; to admit
How to write 认, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 认
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to recognize
- to know
- to admit
How 认 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
讠 gives the meaning and 人 hints at the sound.
Radical: 讠 (words), shared by 144 characters on this site.
How to remember 认
认 is speech 讠 next to a person 人. When you meet a person 人 and say their name 讠, you show that you recognize them. The 人 part also hints at the sound, since 人 (rén) and 认 (rèn) sound almost the same.
认 rarely stands alone in modern speech and usually appears in words like 认识 (rènshi, to know someone), 认为 (rènwéi, to think) and 认真 (rènzhēn, serious). It also carries the sense of admitting something, as in 承认 (chéngrèn). Example: 我认识他。(Wǒ rènshi tā.) I know him.
Common mistake: Learners often write 认 with 入 (rù) on the right instead of 人. In 认, the left stroke of 人 is the longer one. Also, in 认识 the second syllable is usually said in the neutral tone, rènshi, not rènshí.
Common words with 认
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 认识 | rènshi | to know; to recognize | HSK 1 |
| 认真 | rènzhēn | conscientious; earnest | HSK 1 |
| 认为 | rènwéi | to believe; to think; to consider; to feel | HSK 2 |
| 认得 | rènde | to recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it | HSK 3 |
| 否认 | fǒurèn | to declare to be untrue; to deny | HSK 3 |
| 认出 | rènchū | recognition; to recognize | HSK 3 |
| 认可 | rènkě | to approve; approval | HSK 3 |
| 承认 | chéngrèn | to admit; to concede | HSK 4 |
| 确认 | quèrèn | to confirm; to verify | HSK 4 |
| 认定 | rèndìng | to maintain (that sth is true); to determine (a fact) | HSK 5 |
| 公认 | gōngrèn | publicly known (to be); accepted (as) | HSK 5 |
| 认同 | rèntóng | to approve of; to endorse | HSK 6 |
| 认错 | rèncuò | to admit an error; to acknowledge one's mistake | HSK 7-9 |
| 认知 | rènzhī | cognition; cognitive | HSK 7-9 |
认 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 认
How many strokes are in 认?
认 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 认 mean?
认 (rèn) means to recognize; to know; to admit. A common word with it is 认识 (rènshi), meaning "to know; to recognize".
How do you pronounce 认?
认 is pronounced rèn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 认?
The radical of 认 is 讠, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 认 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 认?
The traditional form of 认 is 認. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 认 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 认 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 认 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 认识 and 知道?
认识 (rènshi) means to know a person or be familiar with something, like a place or a character. 知道 (zhīdào) means to know a fact or a piece of information. You say 我认识她 for knowing her, but 我知道她的名字 for knowing her name.
How is 认为 different from 觉得?
Both mean to think or believe. 认为 (rènwéi) sounds more formal and is used for considered opinions or judgments. 觉得 (juéde) is more casual and often expresses feelings or impressions.