记录 (jì lù) — to record; record (written account); record (sp…

Definition

As a verb, 记录 means 'to write down or document' (facts, notes, achievements). Unlike 录, which is for audio/video, 记录 covers writing and broader use; the noun sense includes a 'record' as in a best achievement.

to recordrecord (written account)record (sports etc)

Measure word · 个

Easily confused

纪录jì lùlook-alikerecord (as a noun, e.g. a documented achievement or factual account)

Examples

记录。
Qǐng jì lù xià zhè ge diàn huà hào mǎ.
Please record this phone number.
记录。
Zhè fèn jì lù fēi cháng zhòng yào.
This record is very important.
记录。
Tā chuàng zào le xīn de shì jiè jì lù.
He set a new world record.

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

录lùrecord

记 and 录 both mean write down, so together they mean a written account.

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 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.

Open 录 →