Methods for generating and playing a multimedia file and a recording medium storing the multimedia file are provided. In the generating method, multimedia data to be written in the multimedia file is generated, and then a media chunk for storing the multimedia data is generated. Next, a metadata chunk including metadata that describes the characteristics of the media chunk and the multimedia data is generated by analyzing the characteristics of the media chunk. Afterwards, the metadata chunk and the media chunk are written into the multimedia data file. When all the media chunks have been written, the multimedia file is scanned and the metadata chunks therein are read, such that an index table recording the relations among the multimedia data is generated in the multimedia file. Therefore, the procedure for generating the multimedia file is simplified and the time for preparing the play of the multimedia file is reduced.