无知

• Pinyin: wú zhī
• Hanzi breakdown: 无 = without; 知 = 矢 + 口 (arrow + mouth — to shoot forth knowledge with words, to know, to be aware)

Meaning

Ignorant; lacking knowledge, education, or awareness. Describes a state of not knowing or understanding something that is considered important or basic.

Can be used descriptively (factual ignorance without blame) or judgementally (culpable ignorance implying negligence or arrogance). Common in educational, social, and political discourse. Often appears in the phrase 无知者无畏 (ignorance breeds fearlessness).

Examples

1. 无知并不可耻，可耻的是拒绝学习、固守己见而不知改变。 Ignorance isn’t shameful; what’s shameful is refusing to learn, stubbornly clinging to your own views, and refusing to change.
2. 这场骗局之所以得逞，是因为利用了受害者对金融知识的无知。 This scam succeeded because it exploited the victims’ lack of financial knowledge.
3. 历史上许多悲剧的根源，都在于大众对真相的无知以及对权威的盲目服从。 Many tragedies throughout history have their roots in the public’s ignorance of the truth and blind obedience to authority.

Usage Guide

Context: education, social criticism, ethics, history, consumer protection

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 公众对辐射知识的无知，造成了两极化误区：有人过度恐惧无害辐射，有人又轻视真正风险。(Public ignorance about radiation has created a polarized misunderstanding: some people fear harmless radiation too much, while others underestimate real risks.)
• 政策失败往往不是出于恶意，而是决策者对基层实际的无知，长期脱离民众生活的人常难体会民生困境。(Policy failures are often not caused by malice, but by decision-makers' ignorance of local realities; people long detached from ordinary life often struggle to grasp everyday hardships.)

Don't Say

• 无知 sarcastically or casually for someone who simply disagrees with you — it specifically denotes a genuine lack of knowledge or understanding, not a difference of opinion

Origin & History

无 (without) + 知 (knowledge, awareness) — without knowledge or understanding

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal