知る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 知る, read しる, and it is a godan transitive verb for learning a fact or possessing knowledge of it.
• Basic usage: 知る means either to come to know something through experience or information or to know a fact already.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Coming to know and being a person who knows
  • The forms are 知った and 知る. The past form marks a realization prompted by travel, while the plain form modifies a person and describes possession of knowledge.
• A realization after travel and knowledge of the truth
  • 旅をして初めて故郷の良さを知った。 — Only after traveling did I learn how wonderful my hometown was.
  • 真実を知る人はまだ誰もいない。 — No one knows the truth yet.