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经历 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
经历jīnglìexperienceHSK 4, n, 12 strokes, rank #801, Medium
经历jīnglìto experienceHSK 4, n, 12 strokes, rank #801, Medium
经历jīnglìto go throughHSK 4, n, 12 strokes, rank #801, Medium
jīnglì(jing1li4) T1
  1. 1experience
  2. 2to experience
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

经历(經歷)jīnglì(jing1li4)

经历 (jīnglì) refers to the experiences one has encountered or gone through in life. It can denote both personal experiences, such as events or situations that have impacted one's life, and professional experiences in a work context.

Strokes12Frequency#801DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, sharing one’s 经历 is often seen as a way to impart wisdom and connect with others on a deeper level, especially in storytelling contexts. It is common for elders to share their life experiences during family gatherings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a journey where you 'pass through' (经历) various landscapes, each representing a unique experience. The top part '经' looks like a path, while the bottom '历' resembles a person walking through their life's journey, making it easier to remember its meaning.

Meanings of 经历

jīnglì(jing1li4)
1experience
2to experience
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 经历

经历Simplified
經歷Traditional
12Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#801Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 经历

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Podcast: 经历

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AI Study Notes for 经历

Quick Contrast

经历 (jīnglì) vs 经验 (jīngyàn) — use 经历 for specific life events or situations, while 经验 refers more generally to accumulated knowledge or skills from those experiences.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 经历 with 经验 (jīngyàn), which means 'experience' in a more practical or skill-based sense. Use 经历 to refer to life experiences, and remember it can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 经历 connects with other terms related to life and work experiences. Focus on using it in sentences that illustrate personal growth or professional development to enhance your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 经历 and 经验. For example, saying '我有很多经验' (I have a lot of experiences) is incorrect if referring to life events; it should be '我有很多经历.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 经历

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Component Characters

经Jīngclassics
HSK 78 strokes纟
View full entry
历lìcalendar
HSK 34 strokes厂
View full entry

How to say experience in Chinese

“experience” in Chinese is经历jīnglì

经历 (jīnglì) refers to the experiences one has encountered or gone through in life. It can denote both personal experiences, such as events or situations that have impacted one's life, and professional experiences in a work context.

When to use 经历

Common mistakes include confusing 经历 with 经验 (jīngyàn), which means 'experience' in a more practical or skill-based sense. Use 经历 to refer to life experiences, and remember it can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

经历 or something close to it

经历 (jīnglì) vs 经验 (jīngyàn) — use 经历 for specific life events or situations, while 经验 refers more generally to accumulated knowledge or skills from those experiences.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 经历 and 经验. For example, saying '我有很多经验' (I have a lot of experiences) is incorrect if referring to life events; it should be '我有很多经历.'

Write 经历

经
历

Practice writing 经历 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 经历

经历 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

为了灌制这张唱片你们大家似乎都____了重重波折。

All of you seem to have gone through hell making this record.

Example Sentences for 经历 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
为了灌制这张唱片你们大家似乎都经历了重重波折。

wéi le guàn zhì zhè zhāng chàng piàn nǐ mén dà jiā sì hū dū jīng lì le zhòng zhòng bō zhē。

All of you seem to have gone through hell making this record.
2
我所在的公司经历了一段困难时期。

wǒ suǒ zài de gōng sī jīng lì le yī duàn kùn nán shí qī。

The company I work for went through a rough patch.
3
我们正在经历现代最严重的一段经济衰退。

wǒ mén zhèng zài jīng lì xiàn dài zuì yán zhòng de yī duàn jīng jì shuāi tuì。

We are in one of the most severe recessions in modern times.
4
南非正在经历一场不可逆转的变革。

nán fēi zhèng zài jīng lì yī cháng bù kě nì zhuǎn de biàn gé。

South Africa was going through a period of irreversible change.
5
到目前为止他唯一的一次园艺经历非常令人满意。

dào mù qián wéi zhǐ tā wéi yī de yī cì yuán yì jīng lì fēi cháng líng rén mǎn yì。

His only experience of gardening so far proved immensely satisfying.
6
他总是渴望拥有新的经历，而且永远愿意尝试。

tā zǒng shì kě wàng yōng yǒu xīn de jīng lì， ， ér qiě yǒng yuǎn yuàn yì cháng。

He is always eager for new experiences and ever-willing to experiment.
7
吃一堑长一智，他这个教训来之不易——是从他自己的亲身经历中得来的。

chī yī qiàn cháng yī zhì， ， tā zhè gè jiào xùn lái zhī bù—— yì —— shì cóng tā zì jǐ de qīn shēn jīng lì zhōng dé。

He learned this lesson the hard way from his own personal experience.
8
在诺丁汉我经历了自己在童话剧演出中最尴尬的时刻之一。

zài nuò dīng hàn wǒ jīng lì le zì jǐ zài tóng huà jù yǎn chū zhōng zuì gān gà de shí kè zhī yī。

I had one of my most embarrassing moments in panto in Nottingham.
9
他的绘画经历了具象风格和抽象风格两个阶段。

tā de huì huà jīng lì le jù xiàng fēng gé hé chōu xiàng fēng gé liǎng gè jiē duàn。

His painting went through both representational and abstract periods.
10
有些人会主动地向你讲述他们的生活经历。

yǒu xiē rén huì zhǔ dòng dì xiàng nǐ jiǎng shù tā mén de shēng huó jīng lì。

Some people give you their life history without much prompting.

Frequently Asked Questions about 经历

You can say '我经历了很多困难' (I have gone through many difficulties) to convey personal experiences.

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