zhè shì jiāoyìjìlù.

In this sentence, 这 means this and works as a pronoun by itself: 这 是 ... = This is ...

You often see:

• 这 = this (standing alone)
• 这个 = this one / this + noun in many everyday situations

So:

• 这是交易记录。 = This is a transaction record / This is the transaction record.
• 这个交易记录 = this transaction record

When 这 stands alone before 是, it is completely natural.

Because 这 is not directly modifying a noun here. It stands alone as this.

Compare:

• 这是交易记录。 = This is a transaction record.
• 这份交易记录 = this transaction record
• 这条交易记录 = this transaction entry

When 这 comes directly before a noun, Chinese usually wants a measure word:

• 这 + measure word + noun

But in 这是交易记录, 这 is the subject all by itself, so no measure word is needed.

是 is the verb to be in the sense of identifying or equating one thing with another.

The basic pattern is:

• A 是 B = A is B

So here:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 交易记录 = transaction record

This is a very common sentence pattern in Mandarin.

A useful note: 是 is not used in every place where English uses is. For example, with adjectives, Chinese often does not use 是.

It is best understood as a compound noun made from:

• 交易 = transaction / trade
• 记录 = record

Together, 交易记录 means transaction record or transaction history, depending on context.

In normal Chinese writing, there are no spaces between words, so it appears as:

• 交易记录

Even though learners may mentally separate it into parts, native writing does not show that separation.

Because 交易记录 is a tight noun compound, and Chinese often forms compounds without 的.

So:

• 交易记录 = transaction record

Using 的 would usually sound less like a fixed term and more like a looser descriptive phrase. In many technical, business, or common set expressions, Chinese prefers the compact compound form without 的.

A common pronunciation guide is:

• 这 = zhè (4th tone)
• 是 = shì (4th tone)
• 交 = jiāo (1st tone)
• 易 = yì (4th tone)
• 记 = jì (4th tone)
• 录 = lù (4th tone)

So the whole sentence is:

• zhè shì jiāoyìjìlù

A few pronunciation tips:

• zh in zhè is not the same as English j. It is a retroflex sound.
• sh in shì is also retroflex.
• There are several 4th tones in a row, so the sentence can sound quite sharp and clipped. That is normal.

There is no major tone sandhi here like the common 3rd tone + 3rd tone change.

The tones stay basically the same:

• zhè shì jiāo yì jì lù
• 4-4-1-4-4-4

However, in natural speech, when two 4th tones occur in a row, the first one is often a little shorter or less fully dropped than when said in isolation. That is a pronunciation detail, not a dictionary tone change.

Chinese does not have articles like English a, an, and the.

So 交易记录 by itself can mean things like:

• a transaction record
• the transaction record
• transaction record(s)

The exact meaning depends on context.

That is why a short Chinese sentence can look more “bare” than the English translation.

Yes. 记录 can be:

• a noun: record
• a verb: to record

In this sentence, it is part of the noun 交易记录, so it is functioning as a noun expression.

Examples:

• 请记录这个号码。 = Please record this number.
• 这是交易记录。 = This is the transaction record.

So the role of 记录 depends on the sentence.

Yes. This is a very common beginner pattern:

• 这 是 + noun

Examples:

• 这是我的手机。 = This is my phone.
• 这是老师。 = This is the teacher.
• 这是菜单。 = This is the menu.

It is a useful pattern for identifying objects, documents, people, and labels.

In normal Chinese writing, you would write:

• 这是交易记录。

with no spaces between characters or words.

Spaces are often added in teaching materials to make reading easier, especially in pinyin or beginner examples. They help learners see the parts more clearly, but they are not normally used in standard Chinese character writing.