Word for not knowing about something

Solution 1:

You are right that ignorant/ignorance often carries a negative sense ("He's so ignorant!"), but it can also be used neutrally ("Ignorant of what had happened in my absence, I continued as before"). It can certainly be used to express humility ("Forgive my ignorance, but who is the current president of South Korea?").

For the neutral sense there is also unaware (and unawareness).

There are not many emphatically positive expressions for lack of knowledge, since this is usually considered a negative (though you might argue innocent has this sense; also ignorant and unaware are often combined with blissfully, after the proverb Ignorance is bliss). But there are expressions for situations where lack of knowledge is expected, and therefore perhaps less negative — for instance, novice, apprentice, learner, beginner, and if your aim is to express humility then any of these would be appropriate.

Solution 2:

1. negative

   • I'm ignorant about ...

2. neutral.

   • I am not familiar with ...
   • I am not [well] versed in ...
   • I am a beginner at ...

3. positive.

   • I am willing to learn ...

Solution 3:

The first thing that comes to my mind is Emotional Intelligence.

• In a positive way you could ask for support.
• In a negative way you wouldn't ask but, show off with everything you already know.
• In a neutral way you would ask for feedback or criticism.