<p>写日记本 is a wrong phrase. It should be 往日记本上写 or 写在日记本上.</p>
<p>写日记 is a common term to mean <em>write a diary</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-08T23:56:45.703Z
2022-01-08T23:56:45.703Z
dan
<p>日记 = Diary; 本 = book. 寫(记)日记 is an activity, and 日记本 is a notepad that collects that activity over time.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>A <strong>diary (日记)</strong> is a collection of daily activities/thoughts written down on a <strong>diary book (日记本)</strong>.</p>
</li>
<li><p>A <strong>diary book (日记本)</strong> is a notepad for a person to write his/her <strong>diary (日记)</strong>.</p>
</li>
<li><p>My <strong>diary (日记)</strong> is kept on (记在) that blue <strong>diary book (日记本)</strong>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>I hope you see the differences.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-08T23:43:17.780Z
2022-01-09T14:29:49.747Z
2022-01-09T14:29:49.747Z
r13
<p>写日记 &quot;write diary&quot; is more idiomatic. The word &quot;diary&quot; here refers to the thought and memories you put on paper, aka &quot;diary entries&quot;</p>
<p>&quot;写(日记在)日记本&quot; = &quot;write (dairy) on diary book&quot; sounds clumsy</p>
<p>日记本 is the physical notebook that you write your 日记 (dairy ) on</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-08T23:22:44.260Z
2022-01-09T09:26:52.127Z
2022-01-09T09:26:52.127Z
Tang Ho
<p>Which of the versions listed above is better to use.</p>
<p>My understanding is that they are essentially the same but I'd like to hear from a native speaker how they feel about these two versions.</p>
<p>Is there any subtle difference ?</p>
<p>Let's say the complete sentence is: 我每天写日记(本)。</p>
<p>To 本 or not to 本 , that is the question.</p>

<vocabulary>
写日记 or 写日记本 ? Which is more colloquial?
# 写日记 or 写日记本 ? Which is more colloquial?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-01-08)

Which of the versions listed above is better to use.

My understanding is that they are essentially the same but I'd like to hear from a native speaker how they feel about these two versions.

Is there any subtle difference ?

Let's say the complete sentence is: 我每天写日记(本)。

To 本 or not to 本 , that is the question.

**Tags:** vocabulary

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-01-08. Score: 3

写日记本 is a wrong phrase. It should be 往日记本上写 or 写在日记本上.

写日记 is a common term to mean *write a diary*


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### Answer by username_2 on 2022-01-08. Score: 2

日记 = Diary; 本 = book. 寫(记)日记 is an activity, and 日记本 is a notepad that collects that activity over time.

* A **diary (日记)** is a collection of daily activities/thoughts written down on a **diary book (日记本)**.
* A **diary book (日记本)** is a notepad for a person to write his/her **diary (日记)**.
* My **diary (日记)** is kept on (记在) that blue **diary book (日记本)**.

I hope you see the differences.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2022-01-08. Score: -1

写日记 "write diary" is more idiomatic. The word "diary" here refers to the thought and memories you put on paper, aka "diary entries"

"写(日记在)日记本" = "write (dairy) on diary book" sounds clumsy

日记本 is the physical notebook that you write your 日记 (dairy ) on


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