Chinese word

无知

Pronunciation

Pinyinwú zhī

Meaning

  • adjectiveuninformed

Example

无知的人不要随便发言。wú zhī de rén bú yào suí biàn fā yán

People who are uninformed should avoid speaking carelessly.

Illustration for 无知 (uninformed)

More examples

他在历史问题上显得无知，需要好好学习。tā zài lì shǐ wèn tí shàng xiǎn de wú zhī xū yào háo hǎo xué xí

He seems uninformed about historical issues and needs to study hard.

Core concept

A gap between a person and the knowledge or understanding needed to judge a matter well.

Common phrases

  • 无知的人wú zhī de rén

    uninformed people

  • 对历史无知duì lì shǐ wú zhī

    uninformed about history

  • 显得无知xiǎn de wú zhī

    seem uninformed

Similar words

浅薄qiǎn bó: Showing shallow knowledge or learning without deep understanding of a subject.
愚昧yú mèi: Showing poor knowledge and judgment, with a tendency to misunderstand matters.

Definition in Chinese

缺乏知识或对事物不了解的样子，用来形容知识、见识不足的人或言行。quē fá zhī shí huò duì shì wù bù liáo jiě de yàng zi yòng lái xíng róng zhī shí jiàn shí bù zú de rén huò yán xíng

Word origin

无 (wú, "without") + 知 (zhī, "knowing") forms a compact expression for having no knowledge, which extends to uninformed people, views, and remarks.

Usage tips

  • Calling a person 无知 (wúzhī, "uninformed") can sound insulting, so everyday conversation often uses a softer description of what the person does not know.

Other meanings

  • unenlightenedadjective

Opposites

  • 博学bó xuéwell-educatedadjective
  • 有学问yǒu xué wènknowledgeableadjective

Related words

  • 无知者wú zhī zhěuninformed personnoun
  • 无知无畏wú zhī wú wèiuninformed and recklessidiom

Word lists with this word