ご存知

• Reading: ごぞんじ
• Romaji: gozonji
• Kanji breakdown: 存 (son/zon) — exist, know; 知 (chi/ji) — know, wisdom
• Pronunciation: /go.zoɴ.dʑi/

Meaning

Knowing; being aware of. The polite form of 知っている (to know).

An honorific expression using the prefix ご with 存知 (zonji, knowing). Used to respectfully ask if someone knows something, as in ご存知ですか. It elevates the listener and is standard in polite and formal conversation. Not used to refer to one's own knowledge.

Examples

1. この店をご存知ですか。 Do you happen to know this restaurant?
2. 先生はその話をご存知でした。 The teacher was already aware of that story.
3. ご存知の方がいたら教えてください。 If anyone knows, please let me know.

Usage Guide

Context: polite conversation, business, customer service

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

Honorific prefix ご plus 存知 (zonji), the nominal form of 存じる (zonjiru, to know humbly). The kanji 存 means existence/awareness and 知 means knowledge.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal