noun HSK 4
Traditional 經驗
jīng yàn
experience · practical knowledge

Meaning

经验 refers to knowledge or skill gained through practice, observation, or involvement in events over time. It emphasizes the practical wisdom someone acquires from real-life situations rather than theoretical learning. This word commonly appears in professional, educational, and personal contexts when discussing someone's background or qualifications.

Usage

Native speakers use 经验 primarily as a noun to describe accumulated practical knowledge. It frequently appears in job descriptions (工作经验 'work experience'), educational discussions, and when evaluating someone's capability. The word carries a positive connotation and is often paired with adjectives like 丰富 (abundant) or verbs like 积累 (accumulate). Unlike 体验 which emphasizes the process of experiencing, 经验 focuses on the knowledge retained afterward.

Examples

  1. 01
    她有十年的教学经验
    yǒu shí nián de jiào xué jīng yàn.
    She has ten years of teaching experience.
  2. 02
    年轻人应该多积累社会经验
    Nián qīng rén yīng gāi duō lěi shè huì jīng yàn.
    Young people should accumulate more social experience.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 工作经验
    gōng zuò jīng yàn
    work experience
  • 丰富的经验
    fēng de jīng yàn
    rich/abundant experience
  • 积累经验
    lěi jīng yàn
    to accumulate experience
  • 缺乏经验
    quē jīng yàn
    to lack experience

Antonyms

Origin

The compound combines 经 (to pass through) and 验 (to verify/examine), literally suggesting 'that which has been passed through and verified.' This reflects the idea that true experience comes from going through situations and learning from them.

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