经历

• Pinyin: jīng lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 经 = 纟 (silk) + 巠 (phonetic), meaning to pass through; 历 = 厂 (cliff) + 力 (strength), meaning to experience or go through

Meaning

Experience; to experience; to go through. Refers to events one has personally lived through, or the act of undergoing something.

As a verb, it means to undergo or live through an event. As a noun, it refers to the experiences themselves. Differs from 经验 (practical knowledge gained from experience) — 经历 focuses on the events, while 经验 focuses on the lessons learned.

Examples

1. 他经历过很多困难。 He has been through many hardships.
2. 这是一次难忘的经历。 This was an unforgettable experience.
3. 每个人的经历都不一样。 Everyone's experiences are different.

Usage Guide

Context: life stories, personal growth, everyday

Tone: reflective

Do Say

• 你经历过这样的事情吗？(Have you ever experienced something like this?)
• 他有丰富的人生经历。(He has rich life experiences.)

Don't Say

• 我经历了很多经验。(Don't use 经历 and 经验 together this way — 经历 refers to events, 经验 refers to knowledge gained. Say 我有很多经历 or 我积累了很多经验.)

Origin & History

Compound of 经 (to pass through, classics) and 历 (to experience, calendar). Together: 'to pass through events' — personal experience.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal