记得
jìde
To remember in Chinese is 记得 (jìde).
记得 is used to express the continuous ability to retain information in one's mind, rather than the active process of memorizing (which would be 背 or 背诵).
Which one should you use?
记得 (jìde) is used for the state of having a memory, whereas 想起来 (xiǎng qǐlái) is used for the sudden act of recalling something forgotten.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'remember to do something', use the structure 记得 + verb, as seen in 记得查字典 (remember to check the dictionary).
How do you pronounce it?
jìde
Did you know?
- The character 记 (jì) originally depicted a piece of bamboo used for writing, meaning the word 'remember' is visually linked to the act of taking a physical note.
- Chinese distinguishes between 记得 (jìde) and 记住 (jìzhù), where the latter implies 'locking' the information into the mind so it cannot be lost.
- In old Chinese texts, the act of remembering was often associated with the heart 心 (xīn) rather than the brain, as the heart was seen as the seat of intelligence.
Examples in context
- 记得查字典！Remember to use the dictionary!This sentence shows how to use 记得 to mean 'remember to'.Tatoeba #9991966 by GlossaMatik, translation #10372340 by DaoSeng
- 我记得见过他。I remember seeing him.This sentence uses 记得 to describe the state of having a memory of seeing someone.Tatoeba #1415766 by sadhen, translation #285017 by CK
- 你比我记得好。You remember it better than I do.This sentence uses 记得 to compare how well someone retains information.Tatoeba #5763048 by verdastelo9604, translation #1121215 by Scotland
- 当你学习新的汉字时，请记住它们的笔顺。When learning new Chinese characters, please remember their stroke order.
- 请牢记我们公司的核心价值观。Please remember our company's core values.
- 你记得我们的约定吗？Do you remember our appointment?
- 我永远忘不了你对我所做的一切。I will never forget everything you have done for me.
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a restaurant they visited before.
- 梓涵 Zihan浩然，你还记得那家餐厅吗？Hàorán, nǐ hái jìde nà jiā cāntīng ma?Haoran, do you still remember that restaurant?
- 浩然 Haoran我不记得了，在那儿吗？Wǒ bù jìde le, zài nǎ'er ma?I don't remember, was it over there?
- 梓涵 Zihan就在学校旁边。Jiù zài xuéxiào pángbiān.It was right next to the school.
- 浩然 Haoran哦，我记起来了！Ó, wǒ jì qǐlái le!Oh, I remember now!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
