忆起 (yì qǐ) — to recall, to remember (formal)

Definition

忆起 (yìqǐ) is a literary/formal verb meaning 'to recall, to call to mind', stronger and more written than the everyday verb 想起. Often used in reflective or nostalgic writing.

verb
to recallto remember (formal)

Examples

  • 忆起。
    Wǒ cháng cháng yì qǐ tóng nián de kuài lè shí guāng.
    I often recall the happy times of my childhood.
  • 忆起。
    Tā ǒu ěr huì yì qǐ nà wèi lǎo yǒu.
    He occasionally recalls that old friend.
  • ，忆起。
    Měi dāng kàn dào zhè zhāng zhào piàn, wǒ jiù yì qǐ nà duàn wǎng shì.
    Whenever I see this photo, I recall that past event.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

忆yìrecall
起qǐup

忆 means recall and 起 adds the sense of coming up, so 忆起 means to call something to mind.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
乙
乙yǐ忆yì
Same sound today

忆 pairs 忄 (heart) with 乙 as a sound part, forming a character for remembering.

Open 忆 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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