录取

• Pinyin: lù qǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 录 = simplified form of 錄, a record; 取 = 耳 (ear) + 又 (hand) — to take/seize

Meaning

To admit; to enroll; to accept. To officially accept someone into a school, program, or organization after selection.

Used for official acceptance into educational institutions, programs, or competitive positions. The subject is usually the institution, and the object is the person being admitted. 录取通知书 (admission letter) is a key phrase. Distinguished from 招生 (recruitment) which is the process, while 录取 is the outcome.

Examples

1. 她被北京大学录取了，全家人都很高兴。 She was admitted to Peking University — the whole family is very happy.
2. 今年这所学校只录取了两百名新生。 This school only admitted two hundred new students this year.
3. 我还在等录取通知书。 I'm still waiting for the admission letter.

Usage Guide

Context: education, career

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 恭喜你被那所大学录取了！(Congratulations on being admitted to that university!)
• 录取分数线今年提高了不少。(The admission score threshold has gone up a lot this year.)

Don't Say

• 公司录取了我 — for job offers, use 录用 instead of 录取; 录取 is mainly for schools and academic programs

Origin & History

录 originally meant 'to record' and 取 means 'to take or select.' Together they describe selecting and registering someone for admission.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal