Several parts combine into one character.

記 is a phono-semantic character: 言 (speech) for meaning and 己 (self) for sound. To set speech (言) down in writing and keep it — "to record, to write down, to remember." 己 lends the sound "ji/gi."

The simplified form is 记, with 言 reduced to the speech radical 讠 — the form splits by mode.

Korean hanja-sound "gi": 記錄 (girok, record), 記憶 (gieok, memory), 日記 (ilgi, diary), 記者 (gija, reporter), 暗記 (amgi, memorization), 登記 (deunggi, registration). It is the character in a newspaper 記事 (article).

Mandarin: jì, 4th tone. 记录 (jìlù, record), 记忆 (jìyì, memory), 日记 (rìjì, diary), 记者 (jìzhě, journalist), 记得 (jìde, to remember), 笔记 (bǐjì, notes). Used constantly in daily life, as in 记不住 (jìbuzhù, can't remember).

Japanese: on-reading キ (ki), kun しる.す (shirusu). 記録 (kiroku, record), 記憶 (kioku, memory), 日記 (nikki, diary), 記者 (kisha, reporter), 暗記 (anki, memorization). It is the 記 of 古事記 (Kojiki, Japan's oldest chronicle).

Memory aid: speech (言) written down by one's own (己) hand — recording in writing what was spoken.