认出

• Pinyin: rèn chū
• Hanzi breakdown: 认 = 讠(speech) + 人 (person, phonetic); 出 = two mountains, meaning to go out or emerge

Meaning

To recognise; to identify. To pick someone or something out based on prior knowledge or familiarity.

A resultative verb compound where 认 means to recognise and 出 indicates the result of successfully identifying. Used when you see someone or something and realise who or what it is. Often used with 来 as 认出来 for emphasis. Implies a moment of realisation rather than ongoing familiarity.

Examples

1. 他戴了口罩，我差点儿没认出他来。 He was wearing a mask — I almost didn't recognise him.
2. 你还能认出这个地方吗？变化太大了。 Can you still recognise this place? It's changed so much.
3. 虽然十年没见，她一眼就认出了老同学。 Even though they hadn't met for ten years, she recognised her old classmate at a glance.

Usage Guide

Context: reunions, encounters, identification

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我在街上认出了一个老朋友。(I recognised an old friend on the street.)
• 照片太模糊了，认不出是谁。(The photo is too blurry — can't tell who it is.)

Don't Say

• 我认出了这个汉字的意思。(Don't use 认出 for understanding meaning — use 认识 or 看懂. 认出 is for visually identifying people or things.)

Origin & History

认 means to recognise or identify (言 speech + 人 person, phonetic); 出 means out or to come forth. Together: to recognise out — to successfully identify someone or something from memory.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal