记载 (jì zǎi) — to record, to write down

Definition

记载 (jìzǎi) means to put events or facts into a written account, usually in history books or formal documents. Compare with 记录, which is more general-purpose recording, and 记, which also means 'to remember'.

verb

to recordto write down

Examples

记载。
Zhè piān rì jì jì zǎi le tā měi tiān de shēng huó.
This diary records his daily life.
。
Lì shǐ shū jì zǎi le xǔ duō zhòng yào shì jiàn.
History books record many important events.
记载。
Kē xué jiā jì zǎi le shí yàn de jié guǒ.
The scientist recorded the results of the experiment.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

记jìrecord

载zǎirecord

记 and 载 both mean write down, so together they mean a written record.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 記; 记 is its simplified writing.

言己記

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánspeech; words

Sound part声符shēngfú

己

己jǐ記jì

Same sound today

The traditional form 記 pairs 言 (speech; words) with 己 as a sound part; the simplified 记 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical component.

Open 记 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 載; 载 is its simplified writing.

車𢦏載

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūchariot

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢦏

𢦏𢦏載zài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 載 has 車, a chariot, and 𢦏 gives the sound; 载 is its simplified form.

Open 载 →