รู้

Explanation

The core idea of รู้ is that a fact or piece of information is present in someone's awareness. Depending on context, it can describe an existing state of knowledge or the moment someone finds something out. รู้ว่า followed by a clause means “know that….” รู้แล้ว means “already know,” while เพิ่งรู้ means “just found out.” รู้ also appears in important related words: รู้จัก expresses familiarity with a person or place, รู้สึก means “feel,” and ความรู้ means “knowledge.”

Usage

This word is extremely common when asking whether someone knows something, answering that you do not know, or saying that you have just learned a fact. It is neutral and works in both everyday speech and writing.

Caution

Do not use รู้ for every sense of “understand.” Use รู้ for knowing a fact or answer, and เข้าใจ for understanding meaning, reasons, or how something works. To say that you know or are familiar with a person or place, normally use รู้จัก. For learned abilities such as swimming or driving, เป็น is generally used instead.

1 know (information or a fact) synonyms

• ทราบ

  sâap know (a fact or information) [polite]

  ทราบ is a more polite and somewhat formal way to say “know” or “be informed.” รู้ is the ordinary, neutral word used broadly in conversation and writing.

• เข้าใจ

  khâwcay understand

  เข้าใจ means to understand an idea, reason, or mechanism. รู้ primarily means to possess or acquire factual information.