纪录

• Pinyin: jì lù
• Hanzi breakdown: 纪 = 纟(silk/thread) + 己 (self), originally meaning to bind or chronicle; 录 = 彐 (pig snout) + 水 (water) + 刀 (knife), originally meaning to engrave or copy

Meaning

Record; achievement record; documentation. Refers to a documented best performance or a set of recorded facts.

Most commonly used for sports records or outstanding achievements, e.g., 打破纪录 (to break a record) and 创造纪录 (to set a record). Also used in the sense of documentation or archival records. Note: 纪录 often appears interchangeably with 记录 in modern usage, though 纪录 more specifically implies an official or notable achievement record.

Examples

1. 他在这次比赛中打破了世界纪录。 He broke the world record in this competition.
2. 这个学校的运动会上创造了好几个新纪录。 Several new records were set at this school's sports meet.
3. 这部纪录片记录了一段真实的历史。 This documentary records a true piece of history.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, history, media, achievements

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 运动员打破了百米赛跑的全国纪录。(The athlete broke the national record in the 100-metre sprint.)
• 这段纪录非常有历史价值。(This record has great historical value.)

Don't Say

• 我纪录下来了你的话。(For the act of writing something down, use 记录 as a verb, not 纪录 — say 我记录下来了你说的话.)

Origin & History

Compound of 纪 (to chronicle, discipline) and 录 (to record, register), together meaning a formally documented record or achievement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal