存じる|ぞんじるzonjiru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto know; to be aware (of); to be acquainted (with)
    いっこうに存ぞんじません。↗
    I know nothing about it.
  2. ichidan verb, transitive verbto think; to consider; to believe; to feel
    I regret that I can't help you.
Conjugation
Dictionary form存じる(ぞんじる)
Polite (masu)存じます(ぞんじます)
Negative (nai)存じない(ぞんじない)
polite (masen)存じません(ぞんじません)
classical zu / nu存じず・存じぬ(ぞんじず・ぞんじぬ)
Past (ta)存じた(ぞんじた)
polite (mashita)存じました(ぞんじました)
Past negative (nakatta)存じなかった(ぞんじなかった)
polite (masen deshita)存じませんでした(ぞんじませんでした)
Te form存じて(ぞんじて)
Potential存じられる(ぞんじられる)
Passive存じられる(ぞんじられる)
Causative存じさせる(ぞんじさせる)
Causative passive存じさせられる(ぞんじさせられる)
Conditional (ba)存じれば(ぞんじれば)
tara存じたら(ぞんじたら)
Volitional存じよう(ぞんじよう)
polite (mashou)存じましょう(ぞんじましょう)
Imperative存じろ(ぞんじろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym知るしるNeutralThe plain, neutral word for knowing or being aware; 存じる is simply its humble equivalent.
  • Synonym心得るこころえるNeutralMeans to know or understand something well enough to do it, as in 「作法を心得る」; stresses mastery rather than humble politeness.
  • Synonym存知ぞんじFormalA noun meaning knowing; mostly seen in the honorific 「ご存知」, the respectful counterpart to humble 存じる.
  • Synonym承知しょうちNeutralA noun for knowing and accepting something, as in 「承知しました」; stresses consent rather than humble knowing.
  • SynonymわかるNeutralThe everyday word for understanding or something becoming clear; stresses comprehension, not humility.
  • Synonym存じ上げるぞんじあげるFormalHumble term for being acquainted with someone, as in 「お名前は存じ上げております」; its object is typically a person.
  • Synonym存ずるぞんずるFormalAn alternative conjugation of 存じる with the same meaning, but sounding more solemn and old-fashioned.
  • Related気づくきづくNeutralMeans to notice or become aware of something, often suddenly; it is not a humble form.
  • Related了知りょうちWrittenA written-style word for understanding something; rare in modern use and carries no humble nuance.

Use 「存じる」 to humbly say you know or think, as in 「存じております」. For knowing a person, use 「存じ上げる」; in everyday speech, 「知る」 or 「分かる」. Use 「承知」 for agreeing, and the honorific 「ご存知」 when speaking of someone else's knowledge.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 「思おもう」「考かんがえる」の謙譲語けんじょうご。
  2. 「知しる」の謙譲語けんじょうご。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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