How to Write 录 (lù) — Meaning “To record; to tape”

Imagine using a hand (彐) to press the 'record' button on a device, while water (水) represents the flow of audio or data being captured. This visual helps link the character to its meaning of recording or taping.

The first stroke is a horizontal left-to-right stroke (横折, but actually it's a horizontal then a hook?), but careful: 录 starts with a horizontal stroke (横), then a vertical hook (竖钩) forming the left part. Ensure the bottom (水) is balanced: the left side uses ㇀ (提) and right side has ㇏ (捺), with the right side slightly longer.

录 means 'to record', while 寻 (xún) means 'to search' or 'to look for' and has a similar top but different bottom (寸 meaning hand/measure). 彖 (tuàn) is rare, used as a component in characters like 缘, and means 'judge' or 'interpret'. Visually, 录 has a water-like bottom, 寻 has a hand, and 彖 has a pig-like bottom.

录 is used for making recordings, like 录音 (lù yīn, sound recording) or 录像 (lù xiàng, video recording). It also appears in formal contexts like 录取 (lù qǔ, to admit to a school or job) and 记录 (jì lù, to record or a record). Cultural note: In China, '录取通知书' (admission notice) is a common term using this character, often received with excitement.

Common words containing 录 include: 录音 (lù yīn) — recording; 记录 (jì lù) — To record or a record; 录取 (lù qǔ) — To admit; to recruit; to accept (an applicant).