====== lùxiàng: 录像 - To Record Video, Video Recording, Videotape ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  *   **Keywords:** lùxiàng, 录像, luxiang, what does luxiang mean, Chinese for video recording, record video in Chinese, 录像 vs 视频, Chinese for videotape, how to say record video in Chinese, surveillance footage in Chinese.
  *   **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **录像 (lùxiàng)**, which serves as both a verb ("to record video") and a noun ("a video recording"). This page breaks down its meaning, from its use in daily conversation and social media to its critical role in formal contexts like security and surveillance (**监控录像**). Discover the key difference between **录像** and the more general term for "video," **视频 (shìpín)**, to avoid common mistakes and speak more like a native.
===== Core Meaning =====
  *   **Pinyin (with tone marks):** lùxiàng
  *   **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun
  *   **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  *   **Concise Definition:** To make a video recording of an event; the resulting video footage itself.
  *   **In a Nutshell:** Think of **录像 (lùxiàng)** as the direct action of "capturing footage" or the raw footage that results from it. It's the equivalent of "to videotape" or "a video recording." While you watch a "video" (**视频**, shìpín) on your phone, you use your phone's camera *to* **录像**. It often implies a more direct, unedited capture of reality, like security footage or a home movie.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  *   **录 (lù):** This character means "to record" or "to write down." It's found in words like **记录 (jìlù)**, to document, and **录音 (lùyīn)**, to record audio. It suggests a methodical act of capturing information.
  *   **像 (xiàng):** This character means "image," "portrait," or "to resemble." It deals with visual representation. Think of a picture or a likeness of something.
When combined, **录像 (lùxiàng)** literally means "to record an image." This perfectly captures the essence of creating a moving picture, focusing on the technical process of capturing the visual information.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The term **录像 (lùxiàng)** carries the history of video technology in China. It became prominent during the age of camcorders and VCRs, where the physical act of recording onto a **录像带 (lùxiàngdài)**, or videotape, was a deliberate process.
In Western culture, there's a similar evolution from "to videotape" to the more general "to record a video." Like "videotape," **录像 (lùxiàng)** can sometimes feel slightly more formal or technical than its modern, casual counterpart, **拍视频 (pāi shìpín)**, which means "to shoot a video."
Crucially, **录像** has a serious and official connotation in the context of security and law. The term **监控录像 (jiānkòng lùxiàng)**, "surveillance footage," is ubiquitous in news reports, legal proceedings, and public safety announcements. It represents an objective, often legally significant, record of events. This gives the word a weight that the general term **视频 (shìpín)** (video) often lacks.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**录像** is a versatile term used in various modern contexts.
=== As a Verb: "To Record" ===
This is used when talking about the action of recording something with a camera.
  *   `你想我帮你**录像**吗？` (Nǐ xiǎng wǒ bāng nǐ lùxiàng ma?) - Do you want me to record this for you?
  *   `上课的时候，老师会**录像**。` (Shàngkè de shíhou, lǎoshī huì lùxiàng.) - The teacher will record the class.
=== As a Noun: "A Video Recording/Footage" ===
This refers to the actual file or footage that was created. It's often used for raw, unedited clips.
  *   `警察需要查看那天的**录像**。` (Jǐngchá xūyào chákàn nà tiān de lùxiàng.) - The police need to review that day's video recording.
  *   `这是我们家二十年前的**录像**。` (Zhè shì wǒmen jiā èrshí nián qián de lùxiàng.) - This is a home video of our family from twenty years ago.
=== In Formal/Security Contexts ===
This is where **录像** is most distinct and important. You will almost always see it used for official purposes.
  *   Signs in public places often say `内有**录像**` (nèi yǒu lùxiàng - "Recording in progress") or `禁止**录像**` (jìnzhǐ lùxiàng - "Recording prohibited").
  *   The term for a dashcam is `行车记录仪 (xíngchē jìlùyí)`, which literally means "driving recording instrument," and its function is to **录像**.
===== Example Sentences =====
**Example 1:**
  *   不好意思，这里禁止拍照**录像**。
  *   Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, zhèlǐ jìnzhǐ pāizhào **lùxiàng**.
  *   English: Excuse me, taking photos and recording videos are prohibited here.
  *   Analysis: Here, **录像** is used as a verb alongside `拍照` (pāizhào - to take photos). This is a very common phrase you'll see on signs in museums, galleries, and performance venues.
**Example 2:**
  *   警察通过监控**录像**找到了小偷。
  *   Pinyin: Jǐngchá tōngguò jiānkòng **lùxiàng** zhǎodào le xiǎotōu.
  *   English: The police found the thief by checking the surveillance video footage.
  *   Analysis: In this sentence, **录像** is a noun, specifically referring to security footage. This highlights its formal and official usage.
**Example 3:**
  *   我女儿的毕业典礼，你一定要帮我**录像**啊！
  *   Pinyin: Wǒ nǚ'ér de bìyè diǎnlǐ, nǐ yīdìng yào bāng wǒ **lùxiàng** a!
  *   English: You absolutely have to help me record my daughter's graduation ceremony!
  *   Analysis: A classic example of **录像** as a verb in a personal, conversational context. The speaker is asking someone to perform the action of recording.
**Example 4:**
  *   这部**录像**记录了我们全家去北京旅游的快乐时光。
  *   Pinyin: Zhè bù **lùxiàng** jìlùle wǒmen quánjiā qù Běijīng lǚyóu de kuàilè shíguāng.
  *   English: This video recording documented the happy times our whole family had on our trip to Beijing.
  *   Analysis: **录像** is used as a noun for a home video. The measure word `部 (bù)` is often used for films or lengthy recordings.
**Example 5:**
  *   为了提高教学质量，我们对每节课都进行**录像**。
  *   Pinyin: Wèile tígāo jiàoxué zhìliàng, wǒmen duì měi jié kè dōu jìnxíng **lùxiàng**.
  *   English: In order to improve teaching quality, we record every class.
  *   Analysis: `进行录像 (jìnxíng lùxiàng)` is a more formal way of saying "to carry out recording." This structure is common in professional or academic settings.
**Example 6:**
  *   你可以**录像**，但是请不要开闪光灯。
  *   Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ **lùxiàng**, dànshì qǐng bùyào kāi shǎnguāngdēng.
  *   English: You can record a video, but please don't use the flash.
  *   Analysis: A practical, polite instruction where **录像** (verb) means "to record" a performance or event.
**Example 7:**
  *   我的行车记录仪一天24小时都在**录像**。
  *   Pinyin: Wǒ de xíngchē jìlùyí yītiān èrshísì xiǎoshí dōu zài **lùxiàng**.
  *   English: My dashcam is recording 24 hours a day.
  *   Analysis: This shows the continuous action of recording. `在录像 (zài lùxiàng)` means "is in the process of recording."
**Example 8:**
  *   如果我错过了直播，我还能看**录像**回放吗？
  *   Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒ cuòguòle zhíbō, wǒ hái néng kàn **lùxiàng** huífàng ma?
  *   English: If I miss the livestream, can I still watch the video replay?
  *   Analysis: Here, **录像** is a noun that means "the recording" of a live event. `回放 (huífàng)` means "replay" or "playback."
**Example 9:**
  *   这个**录像**的画质不太好，看起来很模糊。
  *   Pinyin: Zhège **lùxiàng** de huàzhì bù tài hǎo, kàn qǐlái hěn móhu.
  *   English: The image quality of this video recording isn't very good; it looks very blurry.
  *   Analysis: **录像** is a noun, and the speaker is commenting on the technical quality of the footage itself.
**Example 10:**
  *   他把**录像**证据交给了法庭。
  *   Pinyin: Tā bǎ **lùxiàng** zhèngjù jiāo gěile fǎtíng.
  *   English: He submitted the video evidence to the court.
  *   Analysis: This is a highly formal and legal context. `录像证据 (lùxiàng zhèngjù)` means "video evidence," underscoring the term's official weight.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The biggest point of confusion for learners is the difference between **录像 (lùxiàng)** and **视频 (shìpín)**. They are not always interchangeable.
  *   **`录像 (lùxiàng)` = The Act of Recording / The Raw Footage.** It focuses on the creation or the resulting unedited clip. It often implies a direct capture of an event (security, home movie, class lecture).
  *   **`视频 (shìpín)` = Video (as a general media type).** This is the much broader term you use for anything you watch on a screen. It includes movies, TV shows, TikToks, YouTube clips, and online tutorials.
**Common Mistake:** Using **录像** when you should use **视频**.
  *   **Incorrect:** 我晚上喜欢在B站看**录像**。 (Wǒ wǎnshang xǐhuān zài B-zhàn kàn lùxiàng.)