语法 · HSK 4
经验 (jīngyàn) vs 经历 (jīnglì): "experience" in Chinese
经验 is skill or knowledge gained from practice (uncountable "know-how"): 他很有教学经验 "He has a lot of teaching experience". 经历 is what you have lived through—either a noun for an event/adventure (一次难忘的经历 "an unforgettable experience") or a verb meaning "to go through / undergo" (经历了许多困难).
句型Patterns
有 / 没有 + (Field) + 经验Practical skill or work experience.一次 + Adjective + 的 + 经历A specific life event or memory.经历 + (了 / 过) + NounVerb: live through something (经验 is never a verb in modern Chinese).
例句Examples
- 王老师有十年的教学经验。wáng lǎo shī yǒu shí nián de jiào xué jīng yàn.Teacher Wang has ten years of teaching experience.
- 那次旅行是一次很难忘的经历。nà cì lǚ xíng shì yí cì hěn nán wàng de jīng lì.That trip was an unforgettable experience.
- 他们一起经历了很多困难。tā men yì qǐ jīng lì le hěn duō kùn nán.They went through many difficulties together.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我去西藏是一次很好的经验。
✓我去西藏是一次很好的经历。
A trip or life event is a 经历; 经验 means practical skill.
-
✗他经验过很多事情。
✓他经历过很多事情。
Only 经历 can be used as a verb ("to experience / live through").
重点词语Words in this guide
Common questions
Which one do I use on a CV / résumé?
Work experience (the skill) is 工作经验; your work history (the jobs you held) is 工作经历.