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March 24, 2026
忆(憶)yì(yi4)
The character 忆 (yì) means 'to recollect' or 'to remember.' It is commonly used in contexts where one reflects on past experiences or memories. This character conveys a sense of nostalgia or the act of recalling something significant from memory.
Strokes4Radical忄Frequency#7025DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, memories play an essential role in storytelling and family heritage. The act of remembering is often tied to honoring ancestors and preserving family history, making 忆 a meaningful character in personal and cultural narratives.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding their head with both hands, trying to remember something important. The left part of the character (心) represents the heart or mind, while the right part (忆) suggests the action of recalling a thought. Together, they symbolize the effort of remembering something heartfelt.
Meanings of 忆
yì(yi4)
1to recollect
2to remember
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 忆
忆Simplified
憶Traditional
4Strokes
忄Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#7025Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 忆
Podcast: 忆
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AI Study Notes for 忆
Quick Contrast
怀 (huái) - use 忆 (yì) when focusing on the act of remembering something specific, while 怀 (huái) often implies holding or cherishing a feeling or memory.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person holding their head with both hands, trying to remember something important. The left part of the character (心) represents the heart or mind, while the right part (忆) suggests the action of recalling a thought. Together, they symbolize the effort of remembering something heartfelt.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 忆 with 记 (jì), which also means 'to remember' but is more focused on recording or noting down. 忆 is usually more informal and emotional, often used in personal contexts like reminiscing. Pay attention to the tone; 忆 is pronounced with a falling tone (yì).
HSK Study Tips
While 忆 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners at the HSK 5 level due to its connection with verbs of memory and cognition. Students should focus on its usage in expressions about remembering and reflecting.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, memories play an essential role in storytelling and family heritage. The act of remembering is often tied to honoring ancestors and preserving family history, making 忆 a meaningful character in personal and cultural narratives.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 忆 in formal contexts where 记 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我会忆下这件事' (I will remember this matter) is incorrect; it should be '我会记下这件事'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忆
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Grammar Patterns of 忆
忆 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
That smell of freshly baked bread carries me back!
8
她的故事让人清晰地回忆起意大利的乡村生活。
tā de gù shì ràng rén qīng xī dì huí yì qǐ yì dà lì de xiāng cūn shēng huó。
Her story is sharply evocative of Italian provincial life.
9
我已经不是他记忆中那个似乎永远快乐无忧的人了。
wǒ yǐ jīng bù shì tā jì yì zhōng nà gè sì hū yǒng yuǎn kuài lè wú yōu de rén le。
I'm no longer the apparently eternally cheerful chappy he remembers.
10
那次洪水是人们记忆中最严重的一次。
nà cì hóng shuǐ shì rén mén jì yì zhōng zuì yán zhòng de yī cì。
The floods are the worst in living memory.
Cultural Notes for 忆
💡Did you know?
The character '忆' combines the radical for 'heart' (心) with the character for 'remember'. This reflects the idea that memories are often tied to our emotions and feelings.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, memories play an essential role in storytelling and family heritage. The act of remembering is often tied to honoring ancestors and preserving family history, making 忆 a meaningful character in personal and cultural narratives.
📜Proverb
In Chinese culture, there is a saying: '忆苦思甜' which means 'remember the bitterness to appreciate the sweetness'. This proverb highlights the importance of remembering past hardships to value present happiness.
Word Family of 忆
Words Containing This Character13
记忆jìyìto remember記憶
回忆huíyìto recall回憶
忆yìmemory憶
记忆力faculty of memory記憶力
回忆录huíyìlùmemoir回憶錄
记忆犹新jìyìyóuxīnto remain fresh in one's memory (idiom)記憶猶新
追忆to recollect追憶
林忆莲Sandy Lam (1966-), Hong Kong pop singer林憶蓮
忆苦思甜to view one's past as miserable and one's present as happy (idiom)憶苦思甜
忆述to talk (or write) about one's recollections of past events憶述
忆苦饭fig. poor-tasting meal憶苦飯
快速记忆法mnemotechnic method快速記憶法
记忆化memoization (computing)記憶化
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 记忆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 忆
Some synonyms for 忆 (yì) include 记 (jì), which means 'to remember,' and 想 (xiǎng), which means 'to think' or 'to miss.' While they share similar meanings, 忆 specifically emphasizes the act of recollecting memories from the past.
While both 忆 (yì) and 记 (jì) relate to memory, 忆 emphasizes the act of recalling or reminiscing about past experiences, whereas 记 is more about the act of remembering or noting something down. Understanding this distinction can help in choosing the right word for different contexts.
忆 (yì) means 'to recollect' or 'to remember' in Chinese. It is often used in contexts related to memory or recalling past experiences. The character can also imply a sense of nostalgia or reflection on something that has happened.
You can use 忆 (yì) in sentences like '我常常忆起童年时光' (I often remember my childhood). It's commonly paired with other phrases to express the act of recalling memories or feelings associated with the past.
While both characters relate to memory, 忆 focuses on the emotional aspect of remembering, often used in sentimental contexts, whereas 记 is more about recording or noting.
一般来说，忆较少用于正式写作，因为它更口语化。可以在个人信件或文学作品中使用。
Common phrases include '忆苦思甜' (to reflect on past hardships and appreciate the present) and '追忆' (to reminisce).
