JLPT N2 Upper Intermediate
知れる
To become known, discovered, or revealed.
Readings
Other forms
知れない plain negative
知れた plain past
知れて te-form
知れます polite form
1 Verb (Ichidan, Intransitive)
To become known / To be revealed
Describes information, such as a name or fact, naturally spreading or becoming recognized by the public.
Example
秘密 が 外部 に 知れる と 、 大変 な こと に なります 。
If the secret gets out, we'll be in big trouble.
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2 Verb (Ichidan, Intransitive)
I can't understand (someone's thinking)
Expresses the inability to understand someone’s mindset or logic, specifically in the phrase 気が知れない (ki ga shirenai).
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3 Verb (Ichidan, Intransitive)
To be insignificant / Limited
Indicates that the extent or degree of something is trivial and within predictable limits, usually in the phrase 高が知れている (taka ga shireteiru).
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4 Verb (Ichidan, Intransitive)
To be obvious
Describes a fact or outcome that is self-evident and requires no further thought, often as 知れたこと (shireta koto).
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5 Verb (Ichidan, Intransitive)
To emphasize an extreme degree
Emphasizes an immeasurable degree of emotion or state when paired with question words like どれほど (dorehodo).
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