記憶
kioku[kʲio̞kɯ̟]
The Japanese word for memory is 記憶, pronounced kioku.
記憶 is the most widely used and general term for memory in Japanese, often referring to the biological or technical faculty of memory. For specific contexts, you might use other terms: メモリ is used for technical memory, such as computer memory or storage. 記憶力 refers to one's memory capacity. And 思い出す is the verb meaning to recall.
Meaning: ability to recall (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters 記 (to record/write down) and 憶 (to think/recollect).
Which one should you use?
While 記憶 refers to the biological or technical faculty of memory, 思い出 is the ideal term to use when specifically referring to memories as sentimental, nostalgic recollections or moments of the past. For the act of reminiscing and sharing such nostalgic stories with others, the term 想い出話 is used. Additionally, 回想 can be used to mean reminiscence.
How do you pronounce it?
kioku
Did you know?
- The character 憶 in 記憶 contains the radical for 'heart', suggesting that in the Japanese linguistic tradition, memory is fundamentally linked to the heart and emotion rather than just the brain.
- Japanese has different words for memory depending on whether the memory is a 'fact' 記憶 or a 'feeling' 思い出. Using 記憶 for a childhood birthday would sound cold and clinical to a native speaker.
- Japanese speakers use the word メモリ for computer memory, which is a loanword from English. Using 記憶 in a technical computing context would sound like the computer has a human soul or biological brain.
Examples in context
- 彼は記憶力がよい。He has a good memory.This sentence shows how to use 記憶 to describe someone's memory capacity.Tatoeba #108548 by bunbuku, translation #293154 by CH
- 彼は記憶を失った。He lost his memory.This sentence demonstrates the use of 記憶 when someone has lost their memory.Tatoeba #108550 by bunbuku, translation #295136 by CK
- 記憶にまだ新しい。It is still fresh in my memory.This sentence illustrates how to say something is still fresh in one's 記憶.Tatoeba #183090 by small_snow, translation #20212 by CK
- 彼女の記憶には、その出来事が残っていない。The event is not in her memory.
- 彼との思い出は、一生忘れられない。Memories with him will never be forgotten.
- 高校時代の思い出って最高だよね。High school memories are the best, aren't they?
- スマートフォンのメモリがいっぱいになっちゃった。The smartphone memory is full.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a childhood event.
- 結衣 Yui子供の頃の記憶がある？Kodomo no koro no kioku ga aru?Do you have any memories from when you were a child?
- 大翔 Hirotoあまりないけど、記憶にあるよ。Amari nai kedo, kioku ni aru yo.Not many, but I do remember some things.
- 結衣 Yui私の記憶では、ここに公園があったと思う。Watashi no kioku deva, koko ni kouen ga atta to omou.In my memory, I think there was a park here.
- 大翔 Hirotoあ、本当だ。記憶が戻ってきた！A, hontou da. Kioku ga modotte kita!Oh, you're right. The memory came back to me!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “memory” translations and entries 記憶, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
