記念

This is the 119th most frequent Japanese word.


記念

Commemoration or memory.


Here, '記念' is used in the sense of a memorial or something symbolic to remember an event, in this case, associated with '戦争' (war) to indicate its purpose.

この建物は戦争の記念として保存されています。

This building is preserved as a memorial to the war.


Here, '記念' (kinen) is used in the context of 'anniversary', combined with '日' (day) into '記念日' (kinenbi), meaning 'commemorative day' or 'anniversary'.

結婚記念日に旅行に行きました。

We went on a trip on our wedding anniversary.


In this sentence, '記念' refers to a keepsake or something intended to preserve a memory, combined with '写真' (photo) to form '記念写真' (kinen shashin), meaning 'commemorative photo'.

記念写真を撮りましょう。

Let's take a commemorative photo.