How to Write 记 (jì) — Meaning “To remember or record”

Imagine a reporter (记者) speaking into a recorder; the speech radical 讠 represents talking, and 己 looks like a small recorder in your hand. This image ties the character to its meanings of 'to record' and 'to remember.'

Stroke order: dot, horizontal fold, horizontal (for 讠), then horizontal fold, horizontal, vertical hook (for 己). A common mistake is writing the right side 己 with a closed bottom like 已 or 巳—remember that 己 has an open bottom on the right side.

记 (jì) has the right side 己 (self) and means 'to remember/record.' 计 (jì) has the right side 十 (ten) and means 'to calculate.' 订 (dìng) has the right side 丁 (nail) and means 'to order or subscribe.' Focus on the right component to tell them apart.

记 appears in everyday words like 记得 (remember), 笔记 (notes), and 记者 (reporter/journalist). It is widely used for both casual memory (e.g., 你记得吗?) and formal recording (e.g., 记录), and 记者 is a respected profession in Chinese media.

Common words containing 记 include: 记得 (jì de) — To remember; 笔记 (bǐ jì) — notes; 记者 (jì zhě) — Reporter / Journalist.