录音 (lù yīn) — (verb) to record (audio); (noun) sound recording | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

录音 means to record sound (or the recording itself) — 录制 is the more formal written/industry term, 录像 is specifically for video. Pairs with 记/记录, which usually mean 'write down'.

verb

to record (audio)

noun

sound recording

Measure word · 个

Examples

录音。
Qǐng bāng wǒ lù yīn yí xià.
Please help me make a recording.
录音。
Zhè ge lù yīn de zhì liàng hěn hǎo.
The quality of this recording is very good.
。
Tā lù le sān cì yīn dōu méi yǒu chéng gōng.
He recorded three times without success.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

录lùrecord

To record captures sound; the parts mean record and sound.

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 錄; 录 is its simplified writing.

金彔錄

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.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

音 adds a short stroke that seals the mouth-like part, showing a covered or muffled sound rather than speech.

Appears in

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