记录

• Pinyin: jì lù
• Hanzi breakdown: 记 = 讠(speech) + 己 (self), meaning to remember or record; 录 = simplified from 錄, meaning to copy or transcribe

Meaning

Record; to record. Both the documented information itself and the act of documenting it.

As a noun, 记录 refers to a written account, data log, or an established record such as a sports record. As a verb, it means to write down, document, or keep track of information. Used in both formal and casual contexts across many domains.

Examples

1. 请把会议的内容记录下来。 Please record the content of the meeting.
2. 他打破了学校的跑步记录。 He broke the school running record.
3. 我每天都记录自己的学习时间。 I record my study time every day.

Usage Guide

Context: work, study, sports

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这本日记记录了我一年的生活。(This diary records a year of my life.)
• 她保持着这个项目的最好记录。(She holds the best record for this event.)

Don't Say

• 我记录了他的样子在脑子里。(Don't use 记录 for mental memories — use 记住 for remembering in your mind)

Origin & History

Compound of 记 (to remember, to record) and 录 (to copy, to transcribe). Together they emphasize the act of preserving information.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal