In 15 Seconds
- Recording your daily expenses and income.
- Tracking a budget or keeping a business tab.
- A sign of being financially responsible and organized.
Meaning
This phrase is all about tracking money. It means writing down what you spend or earn so you don't end up broke by Tuesday.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking about personal habits
我每天晚上都会记账。
I keep accounts every night.
At a familiar neighborhood grocery store
老板，先记账，我明天一起给。
Boss, put it on my tab, I'll pay it all tomorrow.
In a professional business meeting
我们需要把这笔开支记账。
We need to record this expense in the accounts.
Cultural Background
Traditionally, 'keeping a tab' at a local neighborhood store was a sign of deep communal trust. In modern times, the phrase has shifted toward the 'FIRE' (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement among Chinese youth who use apps to track every cent.
App Culture
If you want to sound tech-savvy, ask friends which `记账软件` (bookkeeping app) they recommend.
Don't confuse with 算账
`算账` literally means 'calculating accounts' but is often used as a threat meaning 'I'll get even with you!'
In 15 Seconds
- Recording your daily expenses and income.
- Tracking a budget or keeping a business tab.
- A sign of being financially responsible and organized.
What It Means
记账 is your financial diary. It simply means recording your income and expenses. Think of it as the act of bookkeeping. You use it when you're being responsible with your budget. It covers everything from a simple app entry to professional accounting.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb. You can say you have a habit of 记账. Or you can tell a shopkeeper to 记账 if you have a tab. It is a very active word. It implies the physical or digital act of writing numbers down.
When To Use It
Use it when talking about your monthly budget. Use it at a small local shop where they know you. It's perfect for discussing financial apps with friends. If you are splitting a bill, someone might say they will 记账 for the group. It sounds organized and smart.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for just 'paying' a bill. That is 买单. 记账 is the record-keeping, not the transaction itself. Avoid using it in high-end luxury stores. They won't let you 'put it on a tab' there. Also, don't confuse it with 算账, which can mean 'settling a score' or getting revenge!
Cultural Background
In old China, shopkeepers used long paper scrolls for 记账. Today, China is a leader in digital payments. Most people now 记账 using apps like Alipay or WeChat Pay. There is a strong cultural respect for being 'frugal' and 'clear' with money. Being good at 记账 is seen as a sign of a stable, mature person.
Common Variations
You might hear 记一笔, which means 'record this one entry.' If someone is doing professional accounting, they might use 会计. But for your daily life, 记账 is the king of terms. It’s simple, direct, and everyone uses it.
Usage Notes
The phrase is very versatile. Use it as a verb-object construction. You can add a duration in the middle, like `记一次账` (record one entry).
App Culture
If you want to sound tech-savvy, ask friends which `记账软件` (bookkeeping app) they recommend.
Don't confuse with 算账
`算账` literally means 'calculating accounts' but is often used as a threat meaning 'I'll get even with you!'
The 'Tab' Trust
In small Chinese towns, being allowed to `记账` at a shop is a huge compliment to your reputation.
Examples
6我每天晚上都会记账。
I keep accounts every night.
Shows a daily routine of tracking expenses.
老板，先记账，我明天一起给。
Boss, put it on my tab, I'll pay it all tomorrow.
Used when you have a trusted relationship with a shopkeeper.
我们需要把这笔开支记账。
We need to record this expense in the accounts.
Formal use regarding company finances.
昨天的电费我记账了，记得看。
I've logged yesterday's electricity bill, remember to check.
Informal coordination of shared costs.
你又买包了？快记账，别忘了！
You bought another bag? Quick, write it down, don't forget!
Teasing someone about their spending habits.
学会记账，你才知道钱花哪儿了。
Learn to keep accounts, then you'll know where the money went.
Educational and slightly serious tone.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about financial habits.
为了省钱，我下载了一个___软件。
A '记账软件' is a bookkeeping or expense-tracking app.
How would you ask a shopkeeper to put a drink on your tab?
老板，这瓶水先___。
In small shops, '记账' means to record the debt to be paid later.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 记账
Putting a beer on a tab at a local stall.
先记账吧！
Tracking daily coffee spending on an app.
我在记账。
Corporate accounting and financial audits.
公司记账流程。
When to use 记账
Personal Finance
Tracking lunch costs
Small Business
Running a tab
Office Work
Reimbursing expenses
Family Life
Managing household budget
Practice Bank
2 exercises为了省钱，我下载了一个___软件。
A '记账软件' is a bookkeeping or expense-tracking app.
老板，这瓶水先___。
In small shops, '记账' means to record the debt to be paid later.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is used for both personal and professional contexts. In an office, 记账员 refers to a bookkeeper.
No, it means you are recording the transaction. If you say 记账 at a shop, you are usually asking to pay later.
Yes, 买单 is the act of paying the bill right now. 记账 is the act of writing it down in a ledger.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend without any issues.
Strictly speaking, no. It is almost exclusively used for financial records and accounts.
It is a physical ledger or notebook used specifically for tracking expenses, like 我的记账本丢了 (I lost my ledger).
You can simply say 记账. For example, 我开始记账了 means 'I have started tracking my spending.'
Not really, but it can be used metaphorically to mean 'I'm keeping track of the favors you owe me.'
There isn't a direct opposite, but 乱花钱 (spending money recklessly) is the behavior people avoid by 记账.
Yes, even if the app does it automatically, the process of reviewing and categorizing those costs is still called 记账.
Related Phrases
算账
To settle accounts (or settle a score)
买单
To pay the bill
流水
Transaction history/cash flow
开支
Expenses/spending
