累积

• Pinyin: lěi jī
• Hanzi breakdown: 累 = 田 + 糸 (layered up/piled); 积 = 禾 + 只 (storing up grain — to accumulate)

Meaning

To accumulate; to build up gradually over time.

Emphasises the gradual process of accumulation, often of abstract things such as experience, data, knowledge, or wealth. The focus is on the ongoing process rather than a final total. Commonly used in academic, scientific, and personal development contexts. Compare 累计, which focuses on the resulting total.

Examples

1. 多年来，他在基层工作中累积了极为丰富的管理经验。 Over the years, he has accumulated extremely rich management experience from grassroots work.
2. 有害物质在土壤中逐年累积，对整个生态系统构成严重威胁。 Harmful substances accumulate in the soil year after year, posing a serious threat to the entire ecosystem.
3. 知识需要长期坚持学习才能在脑海中真正累积起来。 Knowledge only truly accumulates in your mind through long-term, consistent study.

Usage Guide

Context: academia, science, personal development, environment

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 丰富的实战经验需要在实践中一点一点地累积。(Rich practical experience needs to be accumulated bit by bit through practice.)
• 这些长期累积的矛盾最终引发了一场严重的危机。(These long-accumulated contradictions eventually triggered a serious crisis.)

Don't Say

• 将累积与累计完全互换使用 — 累积侧重积累的过程，累计侧重结果总量，两者侧重点不同

Origin & History

累 (to pile up/accumulate) + 积 (to store up/gather)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal