A jìlùpiàn (documentary film) is a non-fictional motion picture intended to document reality, primarily for instruction, education, or maintaining a historical record. The word combines three characters: jì (to record, chronicle), lù (to record, register — often used together with jì in compound verbs like jìlù, meaning 'to record'), and piàn (film, movie). Together, they literally mean 'a film that records reality' — emphasizing factual representation rather than fictional storytelling.

This term is widely used in media, education, and broadcasting contexts. Documentaries cover diverse subjects — wildlife, history, science, social issues — and are commonly shown on television, streaming platforms, or in classrooms. In China, jìlùpiàn often refers to professionally produced, high-quality non-fiction films, distinct from casual video recordings (lùxiàng) or news reports (xīnwén). It carries a formal, informative connotation and is rarely used colloquially for amateur videos.