记住 vs 记得: what is the difference?
记住 is to commit something to memory: 我记住了他的名字. 记得 is to still remember it: 我还记得他的名字。
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 记住 | jì zhù | Means to commit something to memory so that it stays. | 记 + 住 (+ Object) |
| 记得 | jì de | Means to still remember something that is already in your mind. | 记得 + Object / Clause |
记住 (jì zhù)
Means to commit something to memory so that it stays.
Structure: 记 + 住 (+ Object)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 请记住明天要带护照。 | Qǐng jì zhù míng tiān yào dài hù zhào. | Please remember to bring your passport tomorrow. |
| 老师让我们记住这十个生词。 | Lǎo shī ràng wǒ men jì zhù zhè shí gè shēng cí. | The teacher asked us to memorise these ten new words. |
| 我一下子记住了她的电话号码。 | Wǒ yí xià zi jì zhù le tā de diàn huà hào mǎ. | I memorised her phone number at once. |
Not: 我记住你小时候的样子。 记住 is the act of memorising. For still having the memory, use 记得: 我记得你小时候的样子。
记得 (jì de)
Means to still remember something that is already in your mind.
Structure: 记得 + Object / Clause
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你还记得我们第一次见面吗？ | Nǐ hái jì de wǒ men dì yī cì jiàn miàn ma? | Do you still remember the first time we met? |
| 我记得他住在三楼。 | Wǒ jì de tā zhù zài sān lóu. | I remember that he lives on the third floor. |
| 我不记得钥匙放在哪儿了。 | Wǒ bú jì de yào shi fàng zài nǎr le. | I do not remember where I put the keys. |
Not: 请记得了这个电话。 To make yourself learn something new, use 记住: 请记住这个电话。
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Advanced resultatives: 住/成/开/清楚 (HSK 4) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 按照 vs 根据 · 不敢 vs 不能 · 及时 vs 立刻 · 渐渐 vs 逐渐 · 将近 vs 大约 · 竟然 vs 居然 · 既然 vs 因为 · 看不懂 vs 没看懂 · 了 vs 过 · 连…都 vs 连…也 · 没有 vs 不如 · 却 vs 但是 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 记住 and 记得?
记住 is to commit something to memory: 我记住了他的名字. 记得 is to still remember it: 我还记得他的名字。
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