Slang Name：Know is know, noknow is noknow
Chinese：知之为知之，不知为不知
Type：Business Speak / Chinglish Slang
English：
A Chinglish literal translation of Confucian analects, meaning "admit what you know and what you do not know", an ironic expression for rigid English learning.
中文：
中式英语直译《论语》名句，指“知道就是知道，不知道就是不知道”，调侃中式刻板英语学习的经典表达📚
Derived from the mistranslation of Confucian analects by Chinese English beginners in the 1980s, a classic symbol of Chinglish in early English education in China.
源自80年代中国英语初学者对《论语》名句的错误直译，是中国早期英语教育中中式英语的经典代表。
📌 Example 1
A: "Do you understand this grammar point?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你懂这个语法点吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 2
A: "Can you translate this sentence correctly?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你能正确翻译这句话吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 3
A: "Do you know the answer to this question?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你知道这道题的答案吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 4
A: "Have you mastered this vocabulary?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你掌握这个单词了吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 5
A: "Do you get what the teacher said?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你听懂老师讲的了吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 6
A: "Can you explain this rule clearly?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你能讲清这个规则吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 7
A: "Do you know this historical knowledge?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你知道这个历史知识吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 8
A: "Have you learned this skill proficiently?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你熟练学会这个技能了吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 9
A: "Do you understand this academic theory?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你理解这个学术理论吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
📌 Example 10
A: "Can you distinguish these two concepts?" B: "Know is know, noknow is noknow"
A："你能区分这两个概念吗？" B："知之为知之，不知为不知"
💬 Leave a Comment
Share your thoughts on this phrase. No account needed — just your email.