Learn Hardcore Chinese: wǒ hé tā rènshi bù jiǔ, dànshì wǒmen chángcháng yìqǐ qù chāoshì. - He and I haven’t known each other for long, but we often go to the supermarket together.

我和他认识不久 treats the subject as a pair and implies “we haven’t known each other long.”
我认识他不久 focuses on “I haven’t known him long.” You can also say 我跟他认识不久 (very natural in speech).

What exactly does 认识 mean here—“to recognize” or “to know”?

认识 means “to be acquainted with; to have met/know (a person).” It’s not the same as 知道 (“to know [a fact]”). Examples:

我认识他。 I know him (we’re acquainted).
我不认识他。 I don’t know him.
我知道这个词。 I know this word (a fact).

Why is there no 了 to show past?

认识不久 describes a current state (“we haven’t known each other long”), so no 了 is needed.
In the second clause, 常常 expresses a habitual action, which also doesn’t require 了.
Use sentence‑final 了 with positive duration: 我们认识很久了 (“we’ve known each other for a long time”). With 不久, sentence‑final 了 is generally avoided.

What’s the difference between 不久 and 没多久?

不久 = “not long” (neutral/concise; common in writing and speech): 认识不久.
没多久 = “hasn’t been long (yet)” (more colloquial, often used with 就): 认识没多久就……. Both can be used in many contexts: 我们认识不久/我们认识没多久.

Why is 不 placed before 久 rather than before 认识? Is 不认识很久 okay?

不 negates 久 (the length of time): 认识不久 = “the time we’ve known each other is not long.”
不认识 means “do not know (each other),” which changes the meaning.
不认识很久 is ungrammatical. If you want “we didn’t know each other for a long time,” say 我们很久都不认识 (more natural: 很长一段时间我们互不认识).

How do you pronounce 不 here—bù or bú?

bù jiǔ. 不 changes to bú only before a fourth‑tone syllable. 久 (jiǔ) is third tone, so 不 stays bù.

Is 认识 pronounced rènshì or rènshi?

Standard is rènshi: the second syllable is a neutral (light) tone, not fourth tone. Also note retroflex initials: r‑ and sh‑.

How is 一 in 一起 pronounced—yīqǐ or yìqǐ?

yìqǐ. Tone sandhi for 一:

Before 1st/2nd/3rd tones, 一 becomes fourth tone: yì (e.g., 一起 yìqǐ).
Before a 4th tone, 一 becomes second tone: yí (e.g., 一顿 yídùn).

Where should 常常 go? Can I say 我们一起常常去超市 or 常常我们一起去超市?

Most natural: 我们常常一起去超市.
我们一起常常去超市 is awkward; you could say 我们一起常去超市.
常常我们一起去超市 is possible (topicalization) but uncommon in simple statements. Adverbs of frequency typically come before the verb phrase; 常常一起 is a very natural pairing.

What’s the difference between 常常, 经常, and 总是?

常常 and 经常 both mean “often”; 经常 is a bit more common in everyday speech; 常常 can feel slightly more literary but is fine.
总是 means “always,” stronger than “often.”

Why use 和? Could I use 跟 instead?

Yes. 我和他 and 我跟他 are both fine to link nouns. 跟 is also used as “with” before verbs: 我跟他一起去超市 (“I go with him to the supermarket”). 和 can play this role too in many regions.

Does 他 mean he specifically? What if it’s she?

In speech, tā covers “he” and “she.” In writing: 他 = he, 她 = she, 它 = it. If you mean a woman, write 她.

Can I say 我们俩 instead of 我和他?

Yes: 我们俩认识不久，但是我们俩常常一起去超市。 You can omit the second 我们俩 if the subject is clear: 我们俩认识不久，但是常常一起去超市。

Why is it 去超市 and not 超市去?

Motion verb + destination is the default: 去 + place → 去超市. If you put the place first, you typically add a preposition: 到超市去.

Why is there no article or measure word before 超市?

Chinese has no articles. 去超市 means “go to the supermarket(s)” as an activity in general. Add a measure word only when specifying one: 去一家/一个超市.

What’s the difference between 超市, 市场, and 商店?

超市: supermarket (self‑service grocery store).
市场: market (often open‑air or many stalls; broader category).
商店: shop/store (generic). Also 便利店 = convenience store.

Could I omit 我们 in the second clause?

In casual speech, yes if context is clear: ……，但是常常一起去超市。 In a standalone sentence, keeping 我们 is clearer and more natural.

Is 但是 the only way to say “but”? What about 可是 and 不过?

All three work:

但是: a bit more formal/written.
可是: very common in speech, a bit more emotive.
不过: “however/though,” often softer. Any of them fits here.

When do I use 久 vs 长 for “long”?

久 focuses on time elapsed since a starting point: 认识很久/不久.
长 is length or duration as a property: 时间很长/不长, 头发很长. Paraphrase 认识不久 as 认识的时间不长.

Is 认识了不久 correct?

Generally no. Prefer:

认识不久 (concise, neutral), or
认识没多久 (colloquial). Note: V + 了 + 没多久 is fine with many verbs (e.g., 来了没多久). With 认识, people usually say 认识没多久, not 认识了不久. You can say: 我们认识没多久他就出国了。

Can I use 一块(儿) instead of 一起?

Yes. 一起 and 一块(儿) both mean “together.” 一块儿 is more colloquial/northern: 我们常常一块儿去超市。

Is it more polite to say 他和我 instead of 我和他?

Some speakers put others first for politeness: 他和我. Both orders are acceptable; choose what sounds natural in context.

Can I say 认识不久就常常一起去超市?

Yes: 我们认识不久就常常一起去超市。 This highlights that soon after meeting, you started often going to the supermarket together.