语录 (yǔ lù) — recorded quotation; collection of sayings (especially from a prominent thinker or leader)

Definition

A book or passage of recorded quotations from a prominent thinker, leader, or religious teacher — close to 'sayings' or 'analects'. Distinct from 引用 (to cite) and 名言 (a single well-known saying).

noun
recorded quotationcollection of sayings (especially from a prominent thinker or leader)
Measure word · 本
Easily confused

Examples

  • 语录。
    Zhè běn yǔ lù shōu jí le chán shī de zhǔ yào jiào huì.
    This collection of quotations gathers the master Chan master's main teachings.
  • 语录。
    Tā zài yǎn jiǎng zhōng yǐn yòng le máo zhǔ xí yǔ lù zhōng de yí jù huà.
    In his speech, he quoted a sentence from Chairman Mao's quotations.
  • 语录。
    Sòng míng lǐ xué jiā de yǔ lù duì hòu shì yǐng xiǎng hěn dà.
    The recorded sayings of Song-Ming neo-Confucian scholars greatly influenced later generations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

语yǔsayings
录lùrecord

语 'sayings' and 录 'record' build a record of spoken words.

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 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú語yǔ
Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

Open 语 →

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 錄; 录 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
彔
彔lù錄lù
Same sound today

The traditional form 錄 combines 金 (metal) with 彔, which gives the sound; the simplified 录 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 录 →

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