培训

• Pinyin: péi xùn
• Hanzi breakdown: 培 = 土 (earth) + 咅 (phonetic) — to heap earth around a plant, hence to nurture; 训 = 讠 (speech) + 川 (river/flow) — to instruct with flowing words

Meaning

To train; training. Organised instruction to develop specific professional skills or knowledge.

A formal verb and noun used in professional and educational contexts. 培训 emphasises structured, systematic instruction — 员工培训 (employee training), 技术培训 (technical training), 培训课程 (training course). It differs from 训练 (which leans toward physical or military drill) and 教育 (which is broader education).

Examples

1. 公司每年都会组织新员工培训。 The company organises training for new employees every year.
2. 他参加了一个为期两周的培训，学了很多新技能。 He attended a two-week training programme and learned many new skills.
3. 这次培训的内容是关于安全管理的。 The content of this training is about safety management.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, education, professional development

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 新员工需要接受三天的岗前培训。(New employees need to undergo three days of pre-job training.)
• 我下周要参加一个培训。(I'm attending a training session next week.)

Don't Say

• 培训我的狗 (Don't use 培训 for training animals — use 训练; 培训 is for professional or academic instruction of people)

Origin & History

A compound of 培 (to cultivate/foster) and 训 (to instruct/train) — to cultivate through instruction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal