记不清

記不清

jìbuqīng

verb #9,682

Meanings

1 can't remember clearly
2 can't recall clearly

Characters

to remember; to record

not (potential complement marker)

Examples

我记不清他的名字了。

Wǒ jìbuqīng tā de míngzì le.

I can't remember his name clearly.

那件事发生太久了，她已经记不清了。

Nà jiàn shì fāshēng tài jiǔ le, tā yǐjīng jìbuqīng le.

It happened so long ago, she can't recall it clearly anymore.

你记不清没关系，慢慢想。

Nǐ jìbuqīng méi guānxi, mànmàn xiǎng.

It's okay if you can't remember, take your time.

Tips

grammar

记不清 follows the potential complement pattern: verb + 不 + result. 记得清 (jìdeqīng) is the positive form meaning "can remember clearly." This 得/不 structure is extremely productive in Chinese.

usage

Compare: 记不住 (jìbuzhù, can't memorize/retain) vs 记不清 (jìbuqīng, remember but not clearly). 记不住 means total failure to remember; 记不清 means vague, fuzzy memory.

Stroke Order

记 jì

不 bù

清 qīng