jìlù: 记录 - To Record, A Record, Log

• Keywords: 记录, jilu, Chinese word for record, take notes in Chinese, log, minutes, Chinese verb to record, Chinese noun a record, 记, 录, HSK 4
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 记录 (jìlù), which means both the action “to record” and the noun “a record” or “log.” This page breaks down how to use 记录 (jìlù) in various contexts, from taking meeting minutes and logging daily exercise to understanding historical accounts and official records. Discover its cultural importance and avoid common mistakes for English-speaking learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jìlù
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To write down or capture information (verb); the information that has been written down or captured (noun).
• In a Nutshell: Think of 记录 (jìlù) as the fundamental concept of creating a trace or account of something. It can be as simple as jotting down a phone number or as formal as creating a legal document. It's the bridge between an event happening and having proof or memory of it later. Whether you're tracking your workout, taking notes in a business meeting, or describing a historical document, 记录 (jìlù) is the word you need.

• 记 (jì): This character means “to remember,” “to mark,” or “to write down.” It's composed of the “speech” radical 言 (yán) on the left and a phonetic component 己 (jǐ) on the right. You can think of it as “to use speech (or writing) to make a mark on one's memory.”
• 录 (lù): This character means “to record,” “to copy,” or “to write down,” and is often associated with more technical or systematic recording (like audio or video).
• Together, 记录 (jìlù) literally means “to remember and record” or “to write down a recording.” The combination reinforces the idea of creating a formal, lasting account of information or events.

In Chinese culture, there is a profound, historically-rooted respect for the act of recording. From the earliest oracle bones used for divination to the monumental Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》- Shǐjì), keeping detailed records has been central to governance, history, and cultural identity. To 记录 (jìlù) an event was to give it weight, legitimacy, and a place in history. This contrasts with the more casual, multifaceted use of “record” in English. When an English speaker says “record,” they could mean a vinyl record (唱片 - chàngpiàn), a personal best in sports (纪录 - jìlù, but often as part of a compound like 世界纪录 - shìjiè jìlù), or an official file. 记录 (jìlù) in Chinese is more specifically focused on the act of logging information and the resulting log itself. This value for documentation is visible today in the meticulous nature of business meeting minutes, the importance placed on official documents, and even the digital “paper trails” like chat histories (聊天记录 - liáotiān jìlù).

记录 (jìlù) is an incredibly versatile word used in daily life, technology, and formal settings.

• Formal/Business: In an office, you will be asked to 做会议记录 (zuò huìyì jìlù), which means “to take meeting minutes.” The final document is also called the 会议记录.
• Technology/Digital: Your phone's call log is 通话记录 (tōnghuà jìlù). Your web browser history is 浏览记录 (liúlǎn jìlù). Many apps use 记录 to describe logging activities, like fitness or food intake.
• Personal Life: You can 记录生活 (jìlù shēnghuó), meaning “to document your life,” often through a journal, blog, or photos.
• Official Records: This is used for all kinds of official logs, such as a 犯罪记录 (fànzuì jìlù) (criminal record) or 医疗记录 (yīliáo jìlù) (medical records).
• As a Verb vs. Noun: The context makes it clear. If it follows a subject like “I” or “he,” it's usually a verb: 我记录 (wǒ jìlù) - “I record.” If it's preceded by a measure word like 一份 (yī fèn) or has an adjective before it, it's a noun: 一份详细的记录 (yī fèn xiángxì de jìlù) - “a detailed record.”

• Example 1: (As a verb, taking minutes)
  • 请把这次会议的要点记录下来。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ zhè cì huìyì de yàodiǎn jìlù xiàlái.
  • English: Please record the main points of this meeting.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical phrase in a business context. 下来 (xiàlái) is a resultative complement indicating the completion of the recording action.
• Example 2: (As a noun, sales record)
  • 这是我们公司上个月的销售记录。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen gōngsī shàng gè yuè de xiāoshòu jìlù.
  • English: This is our company's sales record from last month.
  • Analysis: Here, 记录 functions as a noun, meaning the log or report of sales figures.
• Example 3: (In sports, as part of a compound noun)
  • 她打破了世界纪录。
  • Pinyin: Tā dǎpòle shìjiè jìlù.
  • English: She broke the world record.
  • Analysis: While 记录 alone doesn't mean “sports record,” it's the core of the compound noun 世界纪录 (shìjiè jìlù), which does. 打破 (dǎpò) means “to break.”
• Example 4: (Using an app)
  • 这个App可以记录你每天跑了多少步。
  • Pinyin: Zhège App kěyǐ jìlù nǐ měitiān pǎole duōshǎo bù.
  • English: This app can record how many steps you run every day.
  • Analysis: This shows the modern, digital usage of 记录 for logging data.
• Example 5: (As a noun, official records)
  • 申请这个职位需要无犯罪记录证明。
  • Pinyin: Shēnqǐng zhège zhíwèi xūyào wú fànzuì jìlù zhèngmíng.
  • English: Applying for this position requires proof of a clean criminal record.
  • Analysis: 犯罪记录 (fànzuì jìlù) is a set phrase for “criminal record.”
• Example 6: (Journaling or documenting life)
  • 我喜欢用相机记录生活中的美好瞬间。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān yòng xiàngjī jìlù shēnghuó zhōng de měihǎo shùnjiān.
  • English: I like to use a camera to record the beautiful moments in life.
  • Analysis: This shows a more personal and artistic use of the verb 记录.
• Example 7: (Failing to record)
  • 他说得太快了，很多重要的细节我都没记录下来。
  • Pinyin: Tā shuō de tài kuàile, hěnduō zhòngyào de xìjié wǒ dōu méi jìlù xiàlái.
  • English: He spoke too fast, I didn't manage to record many important details.
  • Analysis: 没 (méi) is used to negate the past action of recording.
• Example 8: (As a noun, a log)
  • 警察正在查看酒店的访客记录。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài chákàn jiǔdiàn de fǎngkè jìlù.
  • English: The police are checking the hotel's visitor log.
  • Analysis: 访客记录 (fǎngkè jìlù) is a clear example of 记录 as a “log.”
• Example 9: (Historical context)
  • 这本书记录了一位士兵在战争中的经历。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū jìlù le yī wèi shìbīng zài zhànzhēng zhōng de jīnglì.
  • English: This book records the experiences of a soldier during the war.
  • Analysis: Here, 记录 takes on the meaning of “to chronicle” or “to document” historical events.
• Example 10: (As a noun, the person responsible)
  • 今天的会议谁是记录？
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de huìyì shéi shì jìlù?
  • English: Who is the minute-taker for today's meeting?
  • Analysis: In an informal context, 记录 can be used as a shorthand to refer to the person responsible for taking the records, the 记录员 (jìlùyuán).

• 记录 (jìlù) vs. 笔记 (bǐjì): This is a key distinction.
  • 记录 (jìlù) is often more objective, formal, or for the purpose of creating a complete log. Think of meeting minutes, a ship's log, or a call history.
  • 笔记 (bǐjì) means “notes.” It's what you take in class to help yourself understand and remember. It's personal and often messy.
  • Incorrect: 我在上课的时候做了一个详细的记录。 (Wǒ zài shàngkè de shíhòu zuòle yīgè xiángxì de jìlù.)
  • Correct: 我在上课的时候做了详细的笔记。 (Wǒ zài shàngkè de shíhòu zuòle xiángxì de bǐjì.)
• “Record” (music) is not 记录: Do not use 记录 to refer to a vinyl record or a music album.
  • Incorrect: 我喜欢听老的记录。
  • Correct: 我喜欢听老的唱片 (chàngpiàn)。
• “Record” (sports) requires a modifier: By itself, 记录 is not a sports record. You need to specify what kind of record it is.
  • Incorrect: 他打破了一个记录。 (Ambiguous)
  • Correct: 他打破了校运会纪录 (xiào yùnhuì jìlù)。 (He broke the school sports meet record.)

• 笔记 (bǐjì) - Personal notes, as taken in a class or lecture. Less formal than `记录`.
• 日记 (rìjì) - A diary or journal. A specific type of personal `记录`.
• 记载 (jìzǎi) - To record or chronicle, usually in a formal, historical, or literary context.
• 录音 (lùyīn) - To record audio; an audio recording. Focuses on the medium of sound.
• 录像 (lùxiàng) - To record video; a video recording. Focuses on the medium of video.
• 登记 (dēngjì) - To register, to check in, to enter information into a registry (e.g., at a hotel or for an event).
• 档案 (dǎng'àn) - An archive, a file, a dossier. Refers to the collection of official records.
• 历史 (lìshǐ) - History. The grandest and most comprehensive form of a collective record.
• 日志 (rìzhì) - A log or logbook (e.g., a computer system log, a ship's log). Very similar to `记录` but often more technical or systematic.