journal - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
journal Word Meanings
- a daily record of news and events
- a book for recording thoughts and experiences
- a periodical publication covering a particular subject
journal Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
journal Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈdʒɜː.nəl/
US
/ˈdʒɜrnəl/
journal Word Etymology
journal = jour (day) + nal (related to). Origin: Latin 'diurnalis' → Old French 'jurnal' → English. Imagine a book where each day you write down a little piece of your life, like putting a daily meal on a plate.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I pick up a journal and set it on the desk, my fingers finding the spine and turning it a touch. Thoughts tug and push inside me as I write the day's scenes, the ink moving across the page. The page holds what I change, adjust, and keep, and the act feels steady and deliberate. Over time, this small habit spills into real life, turning into a way to reflect, plan, and hold onto meaning.
Real Context
A journal is a book or notebook used to record daily events, thoughts, feelings, or observations. It can be a personal diary, a travel log, or a professional record of data and ideas. A journal might be kept for personal reflection, or to document a project over time. In journalism, journal refers to the field or a periodical, and in science one might maintain a lab journal. People write in a journal to remember details, set goals, and notice patterns. The verb to journal is common in English, meaning to write regularly in a journal. When learning, keep straight noun uses the journal vs verb usage to journal.
Usage Reminders
- Use the journal as a noun; you can say the journal or a personal journal. Use the phrase keep a journal. Distinguish diary for private everyday entries. Use journal with professional or academic publications. You may see to journal as a verb meaning to write regularly in a journal. Avoid using diary as a verb. Check articles with journal when referring to periodicals. Practice by writing 5 sentences in your journal this week.
Common Misconceptions
- Journal is the same as diary; diary is private and informal, journal can be formal or academic.
- Journal always means a magazine; real magazines are magazines, journals are periodicals in academic fields.
- To journal is not common in everyday speech; diary is more common as a personal record.
- Journal cannot refer to a person; journalist is a different word.
- A journal is not a newspaper; it may be a scholarly publication or a personal notebook.
Thinking Differences
English speakers often treat journal as a flexible term that covers both personal records and scholarly publications; learners should note the nuance and avoid using diary for professional logs or magazines for academic journals.
Learning Tips
- Use a regular writing time each day.
- Date each entry and write a quick summary.
- Include new vocabulary in a sentence in your journal.
- Write about different topics to build range.
- Review older entries to track progress and patterns.
- Keep the tone consistent with the journal purpose (personal vs professional).
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'journal'?
A.A type of dance music
B.A large body of water
C.A book or notebook used for writing daily experiences or thoughts
D.A type of tropical fruit
Step 2: Usage
How is the word 'journal' used in a sentence?
A.She danced to journal music all night long
B.He wrote in his journal every evening
C.The journal was as big as an ocean
D.She picked a journal from the tree
Step 3: Similar Words
Which of the following is a similar word to 'journal'?
A.Diary
B.Ocean
C.Banana
D.Disco
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'journal'?
A.Novel
B.Silence
C.Peach
D.River
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you use a journal?
A.To bake a cake
B.To track daily expenses
C.To learn a new language
D.To write a fantasy novel
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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