Japanese word

ご存知

Pronunciation

Romajigozonji

Meaning

  • nounknow

Example

その店をご存知ですか？so no mise o go zon ji de su ka

Do you know that restaurant?

Illustration for ご存知 (know)

More examples

その店の新しい場所をご存知でしたら、教えていただけますか。so no mise no atara shi i ba sho o go zon ji de shi ta ra oshi e te i ta da ke ma su ka

If you know the restaurant's new location, could you tell me?

Core concept

Expresses awareness or knowledge of something while showing respect for the person who possesses that knowledge.

Common phrases

  • ご存知のとおりgo zon ji no tō ri

    as you know

  • ご存知かどうかgo zon ji ka dō ka

    whether you know

Similar words

知識chishiki: Information that a person has learned and can use or recall.
承知shōchi: Awareness of a fact, often including acceptance of it.
認識ninshiki: Awareness or understanding of a fact, situation, or idea.

Definition in Japanese

相手の知識や認識を敬って表す語。ai te no chi shiki ya nin shiki o uyama tte arawa su go

Word origin

ご存知 (gozonji, "knowing") is formed from ご (go, "honorific prefix") and 存知 (zonji, "knowledge"), giving the expression a respectful sense.

Usage tips

  • The phrase ご存知ですか (gozonji desu ka) asks whether the other person knows something and is a standard polite expression in conversation.

Other meanings

  • be aware of ___noun

Word lists with this word