Japanese verb · u-verb · first needed at elementary level (A2)
知る
shiru
to get to know, to find out
A u-verb, although it ends in -iru. (shiru) means “to get to know, to find out”, so “I know” is (shitte imasu), but “I don't know” is (shirimasen), never 知っていません.
Present
現在形
To get to know, to find out. There is no polite present: “I know” is (shitte imasu), and “I don't know” is (shirimasen).
| plain | 知るshiru | |
|---|---|---|
| plain negative | 知らないshiranai | |
| polite negative | 知りませんshirimasen |
Past
過去形
Found out, learned: (nyūsu de shirimashita), I heard it on the news. (shiranakatta) is “I didn't know”.
| plain | 知ったshitta | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 知りましたshirimashita | |
| plain negative | 知らなかったshiranakatta | |
| polite negative | 知りませんでしたshirimasen deshita |
Te-form
て形
(shitte imasu) means “I know”; its negative is (shirimasen). (shiranakute): “I didn't know, so …”.
| te-form | 知ってshitte | |
|---|---|---|
| -te imasu (doing now) | 知っていますshitte imasu | |
| negative te-form | 知らなくてshiranakute |
Passive
受身形
Being known: (shirarete iru), is known, is famous for.
| plain | 知られるshirareru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 知られますshiraremasu | |
| plain negative | 知られないshirarenai | |
| polite negative | 知られませんshiraremasen |
Causative
使役形
(shiraseru) means “to let someone know, to inform”; (oshirase) is “a notice”.
| plain | 知らせるshiraseru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 知らせますshirasemasu | |
| plain negative | 知らせないshirasenai | |
| polite negative | 知らせませんshirasemasen |
Conditional
条件形
(shireba), (shittara): “if you find out, once you know”; (shiranakereba): “if you don't know”.
| -ba | 知ればshireba | |
|---|---|---|
| -tara | 知ったらshittara | |
| -nakereba (if not) | 知らなければshiranakereba |
Examples
- 田中さんの電話番号を知っていますか。Tanaka-san no denwa bangō o shitte imasu ka.Do you know Ms Tanaka's phone number?
- いいえ、知りません。Iie, shirimasen.No, I don't know it.
- 京都はお寺で知られています。Kyōto wa otera de shirarete imasu.Kyoto is known for its temples.