Chinese word

日记

Pronunciation

Pinyinrì jì

Meaning

  • noundiary

Example

她每天晚上都会在手机上写日记。tā měi tiān wǎn shàng dū huì zài shǒu jī shàng xiě rì jì

She writes in her diary on her phone every night.

Illustration for 日记 (diary)

More examples

毕业后，她常常翻看小时候写的日记。bì yè hòu tā cháng cháng fān kàn xiǎo shí hòu xiě de rì jì

After graduation, she often read through the diary she wrote when she was a child.

Core concept

A private written space where passing daily experiences become something lasting and readable again.

Common phrases

  • 翻看日记fān kàn rì jì

    read through a diary

  • 写进日记里xiě jìn rì jì lǐ

    write in a diary

Similar words

日志rì zhì: A chronological record of work, study, or system activity, kept on paper or electronically.
笔记bǐ jì: Notes made during a class or while reading to preserve important information.
记事本jì shì běn: A small portable notebook for noting events, errands, tasks, or other details.
备忘录bèi wàng lù: A short written reminder of a task, plan, or appointment.

Definition in Chinese

把每天发生的事情、想法或感受用文字记下来以便回顾的个人记录bǎ měi tiān fā shēng de shì qíng xiáng fǎ huò gǎn shòu yòng wén zì jì xià lái yǐ biàn huí gù de gè rén jì lù

Word origin

The word 日记 (rìjì, "diary") is formed from 日 (rì, "day") and 记 (jì, "record"), linking each day with the act of preserving what happened.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often hear journal as something for work, study, or travel, but this Chinese noun usually points to personal daily writing, even when the medium is digital.

Other meanings

  • journalnoun

Related words

  • 日记本rì jì běndiary notebooknoun

Word lists with this word