明知

míngzhī

verb #10,661

Meanings

HSK 2

她明知这样做不对，还是去做了。

Tā míngzhī zhèyàng zuò búduì, háishì qù zuò le.

She knew perfectly well it was wrong, but did it anyway.

HSK 7-9

他明知故犯，必须受到惩罚。

Tā míngzhī-gùfàn, bìxū shòudào chéngfá.

He knowingly broke the rules and must be punished.

grammar

明知 is often followed by a clause stating what is known, then a contrasting action: 明知...还/却... (knowing full well...yet still...).

usage

The set phrase 明知故犯 means 'to knowingly violate' - doing something wrong despite knowing better.

明 míng

知 zhī