记得
to remember
jìde
What does 记得 mean?
记得 (jìde) is the everyday verb for 'to remember' — to still hold a piece of information, an event, or a person in your mind. It is the natural answer to 'do you remember?' (你记得吗?) and the natural lead-in to 'remember to do X' (记得 + verb phrase).
Two contrasts with English help: first, the negation 不记得 ('don't remember') is softer and more honest than the more emphatic 忘了 ('forgot'); second, 记得 describes a current state of remembering, while 记 alone is the action of 'making a note' or 'committing to memory.' 记得 also pairs naturally with time markers — 我还记得 (I still remember) — to express lingering memory of past events. Unlike English 'remember,' 记得 is rarely used for 'remembering' a name on the tip of your tongue; for that learners reach for 想起来 (xiǎng qǐlái).
Note: Used in both speech and writing. In casual reminders, the imperative 记得 + verb (记得带钥匙, 'remember to bring the keys') is extremely common.
Character breakdown
to record; to remember
verbal particle indicating completion or capability
Memory hook: 记 (record) + 得 (got) = you've 'got it recorded' in your head — you remember.
Example sentences
你记得我吗？
Nǐ jìde wǒ ma?
Do you remember me?
spoken
我还记得我们第一次见面的地方。
Wǒ hái jìde wǒmen dì-yī cì jiànmiàn de dìfang.
I still remember the place where we first met.
neutral
出门记得带伞。
Chūmén jìde dài sǎn.
Remember to bring an umbrella when you go out.
spoken
对不起，我不记得你的名字了。
Duìbuqǐ, wǒ bù jìde nǐ de míngzi le.
Sorry, I don't remember your name.
spoken
Common phrases with 记得
Synonyms
记住 ('to memorize, to fix in mind') emphasizes the act of locking something in. 记得 describes the resulting state of still remembering. Use 记住 for instructions ('memorize this number'), 记得 for reflection ('I remember that day').
想起来 means 'to suddenly recall' — the moment something comes back to you. 记得 is the ongoing state of already remembering. 'Oh, I just remembered!' is 我想起来了, not 我记得了.
Don't confuse 记得 with
记 alone means 'to write down, to take note of' (记笔记, take notes). 记得 means 'to hold in memory.' One is the action of recording; the other is the state of remembering.
FAQ
Acquire by listening
Hear 记得 in real Chinese, not in a flashcard.
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