记住

• Pinyin: jì zhù
• Hanzi breakdown: 记 (remember) + 住 (hold firm) — to lock something into memory

Meaning

To remember; to memorize firmly. Emphasizes successfully committing something to memory.

A resultative verb compound where 住 indicates a firm result — having locked something into memory. Often used as an instruction or goal: 记住这个词 (memorize this word). Different from 记得, which describes the state of remembering.

Examples

1. 请记住这个电话号码。 Please remember this phone number.
2. 我记住了他的名字。 I memorized his name.
3. 这个字太难了，我记不住。 This character is too hard, I can't remember it.

Usage Guide

Context: study, everyday

Tone: direct

Do Say

• 你要记住这个。(You need to remember this.)
• 我终于记住了。(I finally memorized it.)

Don't Say

• 我记住得很好。(Wrong structure — 记住 is already a result; say 我记得很好 or 我记住了)

Origin & History

Compound of 记 (remember) and 住 (to hold firmly, resultative complement) — to hold something firmly in memory.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal