Usage note
认常用于表示识别或承认错误。
Rèn cháng yòng yú biǎoshì shìbié huò chéngrèn cuòwù.
认 is often used to indicate recognition or admitting a mistake.
Context note
认可以单独使用，也可以组成词语如认识、认错、承认。
Rèn kěyǐ dāndú shǐyòng, yě kěyǐ zǔ chéng cíyǔ rú rènshi, rèncuò, chéngrèn.
认 can be used alone or in words like recognize, admit mistake, acknowledge.
5 examples
我认识这个字。
wǒ rèn shi zhè ge zì。
I recognize this character.
他认错了，并道歉。
tā rèn cuò le， bìng dào qiàn。
He admitted his mistake and apologized.
她认不出我了。
tā rèn bù chū wǒ le。
She can't recognize me.
你认不认识这条路？
nǐ rèn bu rèn shi zhè tiáo lù？
Do you recognize this road?
他认输了，不再争辩。
tā rèn shū le， bú zài zhēng biàn。
He admitted defeat and stopped arguing.
5 mini stories
小明在路上遇见一个陌生人，但他认出那是他的老师。
xiǎo míng zài lù shang yù jiàn yí gè mò shēng rén， dàn tā rèn chū nà shì tā de lǎo shī。
Xiao Ming met a stranger on the road, but he recognized that it was his teacher.
小红不小心打碎了花瓶，她立刻认错并请求原谅。
xiǎo hóng bù xiǎo xīn dǎ suì le huā píng， tā lì kè rèn cuò bìng qǐng qiú yuán liàng。
Xiaohong accidentally broke the vase, she immediately admitted her mistake and asked for forgiveness.
弟弟在游戏中输了，但他不肯认输，还想再玩一次。
dì di zài yóu xì zhōng shū le， dàn tā bù kěn rèn shū， hái xiǎng zài wán yí cì。
Little brother lost the game, but he refused to admit defeat and wanted to play again.
妈妈指着地图上的国家，问孩子认不认识。
mā ma zhǐ zhe dì tú shàng de guó jiā， wèn hái zi rèn bu rèn shi。
Mom pointed to the country on the map and asked the child if he recognized it.
在学校，老师教我们认字，每个字都要记住。
zài xué xiào， lǎo shī jiào wǒ men rèn zì， měi gè zì dōu yào jì zhù。
At school, the teacher taught us to recognize characters, and we had to remember each one.
Mini dialogue
认字
A
你认识这个字吗？
Nǐ rènshi zhège zì ma?
Do you recognize this character?
B
我认识，这是“大”字。
Wǒ rènshi, zhè shì “dà” zì.
I recognize it, it's the character 'big'.
认错
A
我错了，我认错。
Wǒ cuò le, wǒ rèncuò.
I was wrong, I admit my mistake.
B
没关系，下次注意。
Méiguānxi, xià cì zhùyì.
It's okay, be careful next time.
Related words and contrasts
similar
认识
rènshi
to know; to recognize
认识 is commonly used for recognizing people or things.
similar
承认
chéngrèn
to admit; to acknowledge
承认 is used when admitting a fact or mistake.
opposite
否认
fǒurèn
to deny
否认 means to deny, the opposite of admitting.