経験

• Reading: けいけん
• Romaji: keiken
• Kanji breakdown: 経 (kei) — to pass through, to manage; 験 (ken) — to examine, to test
• Pronunciation: /keː.keɴ/

Meaning

Experience. Knowledge or skill gained through direct involvement in events or activities.

Functions as a noun and suru-verb (経験する). Used to describe both the act of experiencing something and the accumulated wisdom from past events. Common in job interviews, self-introductions, and reflective conversation.

Examples

1. 海外で働いた経験があります。 I have experience working overseas.
2. いい経験になりました。 It was a good experience.
3. こんな経験は初めてです。 This is my first time having an experience like this.

Usage Guide

Context: work, self-introduction, conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Chinese roots, combining 経 (to pass through) and 験 (to examine, to test). The imagery suggests passing through a test or trial and gaining knowledge from it.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal