历史 lìshǐ history
history; past records
How to remember 历史: 历 experience + 史 history = history.
Characters
How it is used
- History (as subject and as a past record) - 中国历史 (Zhōngguó lìshǐ) Chinese history, 学历史 (xué lìshǐ) study history.
- Both 历 and 史 already mean "history/records," so the compound is emphatic; also "track record / past" - 这家公司有很长的历史 (this company has a long history).
- Distinguish from 故事 (gùshi, a story): 历史 is the real past, not a tale.
Example sentences
- 历史课九点开始。 Lìshǐkè jiǔdiǎn kāishǐ.The history class starts at nine.
- 我喜欢看关于历史的书。 Wǒ xǐhuan kàn guānyú lìshǐ de shū.I like to read books about history.
- 长城的历史很悠久。 Chángchéng de lìshǐ hěn yōujiǔ.The Great Wall has a very long history.