You know that vs You see

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

You know that

Top 2,000 (common)

You see

Top 2,000 (common)

	You know that	You see
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //juː nəʊ ðæt// 🇺🇸 //ju noʊ ðæt//	🇬🇧 //juː siː// 🇺🇸 //ju si//
Meaning	It's a way to check if someone understands or agrees.	You notice or perceive something.
Example	It's important to save money, you know that.	You see the stars shining brightly in the night sky.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	you know that feeling, you know that look, you know that it's true	you see what's happening, you see that, can you see, I see you, you see it clearly
Antonyms	You don't know that, You are unaware that, You have no idea that	-
Common mistakes	Using 'you know that' too often in a sentence., Omitting 'that', making the phrase sound incomplete., Confusing it with 'do you know' which asks for information.	Using 'you see' without context., Confusing with 'do you see'., Overusing in written communication.
Usage notes	Used to emphasize a point or check for understanding; appropriate in conversations but can seem repetitive if overused.	Used to indicate understanding or realization. Common in spoken English, but less formal in writing. Avoid in very formal contexts.

See it in real clips

You know that day that you once told me about when

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

I don't necessarily know that understanding is what we're doing.

Sherlock › S1 E1

We know from her suitcase that she was intending to stay overnight,

You know that day that you once told me about when

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

I don't necessarily know that understanding is what we're doing.

You know that

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Do you see?

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

You see, hydrofluoric acid won't eat through plastic.

Breaking Bad › S1 E4

that's persistence, you see?

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Do you see?

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

You see, hydrofluoric acid won't eat through plastic.

You see

Frequently asked questions: You know that vs You see

What's the difference between You know that and You see?

You know that: It's a way to check if someone understands or agrees. You see: You notice or perceive something.

Can you show an example of each?

You know that: It's important to save money, you know that. You see: You see the stars shining brightly in the night sky.

Can I use You know that and You see interchangeably?

Not always. You know that and You see are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.