gei3 hei2記起记起

Jyutpinggei3 hei2

Yalegei héi

動詞Common

Definition

To recall, recollect, or remember something from the past.

colloquialdaily actionscommunication

How it's used

Focus on the suddenness of the memory surfacing, as it implies a mental trigger has occurred. It is interchangeable with 諗返起, but 記起 carries a slightly more formal or deliberate nuance when discussing the act of retrieval. It is rarely used in the negative form to express forgetting, as 唔記得 is the standard way to say that.

Examples

ngo5我dat6突jin4然gei3記hei2起ting1聽jat6日jiu3要gaau1交gung1功fo3課。

I suddenly remembered that I need to submit my homework tomorrow.

nei5你gei3記m4唔gei3記hei2起go2嗰go3個jan4人giu3叫me1咩ming4名aa4呀？

Do you remember what that person's name is?

Common phrases

dat6突jin4然gei3記hei2起

suddenly recall

gei3記hei2起wong5往si6事

recall past events

Common mistake

Avoid using 記起 when you mean to simply keep something in your mind, as that is 記得. 記起 is specifically for the moment of recalling something that was temporarily lost from your active thoughts.