How do you say "I don't know" in Chinese?

"I don't know" in Chinese is 我不知道。 — written in pinyin as Wǒ bù zhīdào. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.

What does 我不知道。 mean in Chinese?

我不知道。 (Wǒ bù zhīdào) means "I don't know". Broken down word by word: 我 (wǒ) means "I / me"; 不 (bù) means "not"; 知道 (zhīdào) means "to know".

When would you use "I don't know" in Chinese?

When you genuinely have nothing to give — somebody asking you for directions, for a shop's opening hours, or about a place you are also visiting for the first time. It is a plain statement, not a request for slower speech: 我不懂 asks for a rephrase, while 我不知道 says the answer is not in your hands.

How to say “I don't know” in Chinese

“I don't know” in Chinese is 我不知道。, written in pinyin as Wǒ bù zhīdào.

我不知道。

Wǒ bù zhīdào.

I don't know.

Word by word

What each part of 我不知道。 actually means.

我wǒI / me
不bùnot
知道zhīdàoto know

When you use it

When you genuinely have nothing to give — somebody asking you for directions, for a shop's opening hours, or about a place you are also visiting for the first time.
It is a plain statement, not a request for slower speech: 我不懂 asks for a rephrase, while 我不知道 says the answer is not in your hands.

Use 我不知道。 in everyday situations. Greetings, thanks and the small words you use all day.

Other ways people say it

The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.

我也不知道。
Wǒ yě bù zhīdào
I don't know either.
也 does a lot of work here. It tells the other person you are not withholding anything — you are in the same position they are.
我不太清楚。
Wǒ bú tài qīngchu
I'm not quite sure.
清楚 is 'clear', so 不清楚 reports uncertainty rather than a flat blank. Softer than 不知道 without being vague.
我帮你问问。
Wǒ bāng nǐ wènwen
Let me ask someone for you.
The closing move when you want to help anyway. Doubling the verb (问问) is what makes the errand sound casual rather than a favour you are owed.

What usually trips people up

不知道 answers a question you understood. If the words themselves did not land, it sounds like a refusal to answer and people will simply repeat the question louder — 我不懂 is the one that asks for a rephrase.
不太 needs a gradable word after it. 我不太清楚 is correct and softer, while 我不太知道 is a slip; it is a common one, because 不知道 is so frequent that it feels safe to soften.
There is no bare yes to fall back on when somebody checks something with you. If you mean 'I have heard of it' rather than 'I know', 我听说过 is the verb — and 我知道 as a two-word answer can sound like 'obviously I know'.

What you might hear back

没关系，我再问问。Méiguānxi, wǒ zài wènwenNo problem, I'll ask someone else.
你可以去前台问。Nǐ kěyǐ qù qiántái wènYou can ask at the front desk.
我也不太清楚。Wǒ yě bú tài qīngchuI'm not too sure either.

Common questions

How do you say "I don't know" in Chinese?: "I don't know" in Chinese is 我不知道。 — written in pinyin as Wǒ bù zhīdào. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.
What does 我不知道。 mean in Chinese?: 我不知道。 (Wǒ bù zhīdào) means "I don't know". Broken down word by word: 我 (wǒ) means "I / me"; 不 (bù) means "not"; 知道 (zhīdào) means "to know".
When would you use "I don't know" in Chinese?: When you genuinely have nothing to give — somebody asking you for directions, for a shop's opening hours, or about a place you are also visiting for the first time. It is a plain statement, not a request for slower speech: 我不懂 asks for a rephrase, while 我不知道 says the answer is not in your hands.

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