识相

識相

shíxiàng

verb #21,652

Meanings

1 to know one's place
2 to read the situation correctly
3 to be tactful
4 to be savvy about social cues

Characters

to recognize; to know; knowledge

appearance; look; bearing; the situation

Examples

你要识相，别在这时候提加薪的事。

Nǐ yào shíxiàng, bié zài zhè shíhou tí jiā xīn de shì.

Know your place — don't bring up a raise at a time like this.

他很识相，一看气氛不对就主动离开了。

Tā hěn shíxiàng, yī kàn qìfēn bù duì jiù zhǔdòng líkāi le.

He read the room well — as soon as he sensed the awkward atmosphere, he excused himself.

Tips

register

识相 is informal and commonly used in Cantonese-influenced Mandarin (especially in Hong Kong and southern China). It can be used as a mild warning: 识相就快走 (if you know what's good for you, leave quickly). It implies social intelligence — knowing when to act and when to back off.

Stroke Order

识 shí

相 xiāng