记

記

jì

己 + 讠

HSK 3.0Level 3

Frequency#306

Definitions

jì (verb) to remember; to memorize

jì (verb) to record; to note down

jì (noun) mark; sign

Etymology

Simplified form of 記. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 己 represents the sound.

About

The character "记" derives from its traditional form "記", structured with the semantic component "言" (speech) and the phonetic component "己". This composition indicates its original association with recording through language, specifically the act of inscribing or noting down information. Over time, its meaning expanded from verbal annotations to include written documentation, such as keeping accounts, composing memoirs, and reporting events. The simplified form "记" maintains the phonetic element "己" while altering the semantic radical to "讠", a common abbreviation for "言". The character's semantic range widened to encompass concepts of memory, official registers, and narrative records.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他每天写日记。

Tā měitiān xiě rìjì.

He writes a diary every day.

请记住这个单词。

Qǐng jìzhù zhège dāncí.

Please remember this word.

老师记录了成绩。

Lǎoshī jìlù le chéngjì.

The teacher recorded the grades.

记者采访了市长。

Jìzhě cǎifǎng le shìzhǎng.

The reporter interviewed the mayor.

我的记忆很清晰。

Wǒ de jìyì hěn qīngxī.

My memory is very clear.

我记错了时间。

Wǒ jìcuò le shíjiān.

I remembered the time wrongly.

我把地址记下来了。

Wǒ bǎ dìzhǐ jì xiàlái le.

I wrote down the address.

如果你不记笔记，可能会忘记重要内容。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù jì bǐjì, kěnéng huì wàngjì zhòngyào nèiróng.

If you don't take notes, you might forget important content.

Related Characters

Component: 己

Component: 讠

记