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日记 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
日记rìjìdiaryHSK 4, n, 9 strokes, rank #3197, Medium
rìjì(ri4ji4)ri ji T4
  1. 1diary
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March 24, 2026

日记(日記)rìjì(ri4ji4)

日记 (rìjì) means 'diary' or 'journal' in Mandarin. It refers to a personal record where individuals document their daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, keeping a diary is a popular practice for self-reflection and language learning.

Strokes9Frequency#3197DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

Keeping a diary is a common practice in Chinese culture, often encouraged in educational settings to promote writing skills and self-reflection. Many famous Chinese literary figures have kept diaries that provide insight into their thoughts and lives.

Memory Tip

Think of 日 (rì) as the sun, representing the day, and 记 (jì) as a memory or record. Imagine writing about your day under the sun, capturing memories as they happen, which will help you remember that 日记 is a diary.

Meanings of 日记

rìjì(ri4ji4)
1diary
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 日记

日记Simplified
日記Traditional
9Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3197Frequency Rank
则Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 日记

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Podcast: 日记

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AI Study Notes for 日记

Quick Contrast

笔记 (bǐjì) — use 日记 for personal reflections and daily experiences, while 笔记 is for notes or summaries of information.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 日 (rì) and 记 (jì), as mispronouncing can lead to confusion with other words. It's often used in the context of personal growth, but can also appear in academic settings when discussing writing practices. Common collocations include '写日记' (xiě rìjì - to write a diary).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 日记 connects well with other vocabulary related to daily activities and personal expressions. Focus on using it in sentences to describe your daily routine or feelings to enhance your fluency.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 日记 with 志 (zhì), which can mean 'aspiration' or 'record'. For example, saying '我写志' instead of '我写日记' is incorrect; the right phrase is '我写日记'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 日记

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Component Characters

日rìsun
HSK 14 strokes日
View full entry
记jìto record
HSK 35 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say diary in Chinese

“diary” in Chinese is日记rìjì

日记 (rìjì) means 'diary' or 'journal' in Mandarin. It refers to a personal record where individuals document their daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, keeping a diary is a popular practice for self-reflection and language learning.

When to use 日记

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 日 (rì) and 记 (jì), as mispronouncing can lead to confusion with other words. It's often used in the context of personal growth, but can also appear in academic settings when discussing writing practices. Common collocations include '写日记' (xiě rìjì - to write a diary).

日记 or something close to it

笔记 (bǐjì) — use 日记 for personal reflections and daily experiences, while 笔记 is for notes or summaries of information.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 日记 with 志 (zhì), which can mean 'aspiration' or 'record'. For example, saying '我写志' instead of '我写日记' is incorrect; the right phrase is '我写日记'.

Write 日记

日
记

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Frequently Asked Questions about 日记

You can say '我每天写日记' (Wǒ měitiān xiě rìjì).

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