lùyīn: 录音 - To Record (sound), Sound Recording

• Keywords: luyin, 录音, Chinese for record, audio recording in Chinese, record sound, voice memo in Chinese, what does luyin mean, 录音 vs 录像, record a meeting in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 录音 (lùyīn), which means “to record sound” or a “sound recording.” This page breaks down the characters 录 (to record) and 音 (sound), explains its use as both a verb and a noun, and explores its role in modern China, from WeChat voice messages to legal evidence. With 10+ practical example sentences and clear distinctions from similar words like 录像 (to record video), this is the ultimate guide for beginners to master 录音.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lùyīn
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To make an audio recording; a sound recording itself.
• In a Nutshell: 录音 (lùyīn) is the go-to term for anything related to capturing sound. Think of hitting the record button on your phone's voice memo app, a journalist recording an interview, or a musician in a recording studio. It can be the action of recording (verb) or the resulting audio file (noun). It is a very direct and functional word.

• 录 (lù): This character means “to record” or “to write down.” It's composed of the metal radical (钅) and a phonetic component. You can think of it as the act of inscribing or logging information, originally onto materials like metal or bamboo strips.
• 音 (yīn): This character simply means “sound” or “tone.” It's a foundational character in music and audio-related vocabulary.
• Together, 录 (record) + 音 (sound) literally means “to record sound.” The meaning is transparent and easy to remember.

While “recording” is a universal technological concept, its use in China has a few distinct cultural flavors.

• WeChat Voice Messages (微信语音): In the West, sending voice notes is common but often secondary to texting. In China, sending short (and sometimes very long) voice messages via WeChat is extremely common, arguably more so than in many Western cultures. It's a quick, personal way to communicate, but there's an etiquette to it—sending a string of 60-second voice messages can be seen as inconsiderate to the receiver who has to listen to them all. This is a primary daily interaction with 录音.
• Legal Evidence: Audio recordings (录音) can be, and often are, used as evidence in Chinese legal disputes. However, the legality can be complex. Secretly recorded conversations might not always be admissible, and the rules can differ from those in Western legal systems. This adds a layer of seriousness to the act of recording a conversation.
• Contrast with “Note-Taking”: While in English “to record” can sometimes figuratively mean “to make a note of,” the Chinese term 记录 (jìlù) covers that broader meaning (e.g., recording meeting minutes). 录音 (lùyīn) is almost exclusively used for capturing actual sound.

录音 is a high-frequency word used in many everyday and professional contexts.

• As a Verb (to record): You use it when you are performing the action of capturing audio.
  • e.g., “请不要录音。” (Please don't record.)
• As a Noun (a recording): You use it to refer to the audio file or the product of recording.
  • e.g., “你能把录音发给我吗？” (Can you send me the recording?)
• In Common Compounds:
  • 录音笔 (lùyīnbǐ): A digital voice recorder, literally “recording pen.”
  • 录音棚 (lùyīnpéng): A recording studio, literally “recording shed/studio.”
  • 录音机 (lùyīnjī): An older term for a tape recorder or audio recorder, “recording machine.”

• Example 1:
  • 老师，我可以录音吗？我怕我听不懂。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ lùyīn ma? Wǒ pà wǒ tīng bù dǒng.
  • English: Teacher, may I record the class? I'm afraid I won't be able to understand everything.
  • Analysis: A classic and polite request from a student. 录音 is used as a verb here.
• Example 2:
  • 今天的会议录音我已经发到你邮箱了。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de huìyì lùyīn wǒ yǐjīng fā dào nǐ yóuxiāng le.
  • English: I've already sent today's meeting recording to your email.
  • Analysis: Here, 录音 is used as a noun, referring to the audio file of the meeting.
• Example 3:
  • 这位歌手正在录音棚里录制她的新专辑。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi gēshǒu zhèngzài lùyīnpéng lǐ lùzhì tā de xīn zhuānjí.
  • English: This singer is in the recording studio recording her new album.
  • Analysis: This example shows the compound word 录音棚 (lùyīnpéng), meaning “recording studio.”
• Example 4:
  • 记者用录音笔记录下了整个采访过程。
  • Pinyin: Jìzhě yòng lùyīnbǐ jìlù xiàle zhěnggè cǎifǎng guòchéng.
  • English: The journalist used a recording pen to record the entire interview process.
  • Analysis: Features the compound 录音笔 (lùyīnbǐ), a very common device.
• Example 5:
  • 你别给我发录音了，打字吧，我现在不方便听。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié gěi wǒ fā lùyīn le, dǎzì ba, wǒ xiànzài bù fāngbiàn tīng.
  • English: Stop sending me voice recordings, just type. It's not convenient for me to listen right now.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the social etiquette of WeChat. 录音 here refers to voice messages.
• Example 6:
  • 这段录音可以作为他撒谎的证据。
  • Pinyin: Zhè duàn lùyīn kěyǐ zuòwéi tā sāhuǎng de zhèngjù.
  • English: This recording can be used as evidence that he was lying.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the legal or formal use of 录音 as evidence.
• Example 7:
  • 我的手机有录音功能。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī yǒu lùyīn gōngnéng.
  • English: My phone has a voice recording function.
  • Analysis: A simple, practical sentence describing a device's capability. 录音 is part of the compound 录音功能 (lùyīn gōngnéng), “recording function.”
• Example 8:
  • 他把重要的电话通话都录音了。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ zhòngyào de diànhuà tōnghuà dōu lùyīn le.
  • English: He recorded all of his important phone calls.
  • Analysis: Uses the 把 (bǎ) structure to emphasize the action (录音) being performed on the object (phone calls).
• Example 9:
  • 这份录音的音质不太好，有很多噪音。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn lùyīn de yīnzhì bù tài hǎo, yǒu hěn duō zàoyīn.
  • English: The sound quality of this recording isn't very good; there's a lot of noise.
  • Analysis: Using 录音 as a noun and describing its quality. 份 (fèn) is a common measure word for files and documents.
• Example 10:
  • 抱歉，我们公司规定，面试过程不允许录音或录像。
  • Pinyin: Bàoqiàn, wǒmen gōngsī guīdìng, miànshì guòchéng bù yǔnxǔ lùyīn huò lùxiàng.
  • English: Sorry, our company policy states that recording audio or video is not permitted during the interview process.
  • Analysis: A formal announcement that clearly distinguishes between 录音 (lùyīn) and its video counterpart, 录像 (lùxiàng).

• 录音 (lùyīn) vs. 录像 (lùxiàng): This is the most common mistake for learners.
  • 录音 (lùyīn): Audio only. (音 = sound)
  • 录像 (lùxiàng): Video. (像 = image/portrait). If you are recording video with sound, you use 录像.
  • Incorrect: 我想录音这个美丽的风景。(I want to audio-record this beautiful scenery.)
  • Correct: 我想录像这个美丽的风景。(I want to video-record this beautiful scenery.)
• 录音 (lùyīn) vs. 记录 (jìlù):
  • 录音 (lùyīn): Specifically recording sound with a device.
  • 记录 (jìlù): A broader term for “to record” or “to take down,” most often meaning to write notes. You 记录 meeting minutes, you don't 录音 them (unless you're literally making an audio recording of the meeting).
  • Incorrect: 我用笔录音了老师说的话。(I used a pen to audio-record what the teacher said.)
  • Correct: 我用笔记录了老师说的话。(I used a pen to write down/log what the teacher said.)

• 录像 (lùxiàng) - The direct counterpart for video; to record video or a video recording.
• 录制 (lùzhì) - A more formal term for “to record,” often used for professional productions like TV shows, podcasts, or music albums.
• 记录 (jìlù) - To record in a general sense, usually by writing; a log, a record, meeting minutes.
• 音频 (yīnpín) - A more technical term for “audio” or “audio frequency,” like in “audio file” (音频文件).
• 播放 (bōfàng) - To play (media), the opposite of recording. Used for audio, video, etc.
• 声音 (shēngyīn) - The general word for “sound” or “voice.” 录音 is the act of capturing 声音.
• 麦克风 (màikèfēng) - Microphone. A phonetic loanword essential for 录音.
• 耳机 (ěrjī) - Headphones/earphones. Essential for listening to a 录音 privately.
• 录音笔 (lùyīnbǐ) - A digital voice recorder (“recording pen”).
• 录音棚 (lùyīnpéng) - A professional recording studio (“recording shed”).