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历经 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
历经lìjīngto experienceHSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #16250, Hard
历经lìjīngto go throughHSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #16250, Hard
lìjīng(li4jing1) T4
  1. 1to experience
  2. 2to go through
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March 24, 2026

历经(歷經)lìjīng(li4jing1)

历经 means 'to experience' or 'to go through' something, often referring to enduring events or processes over time. It is commonly used in contexts discussing personal experiences, hardships, or significant events in one’s life or history.

Strokes12Frequency#16250DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of 历经 often relates to Chinese cultural values of resilience and the importance of learning from past experiences. It is frequently used in literature and speeches that reflect on historical events or personal growth.

Memory Tip

Think of 历 (lì) as a 'record' or 'history,' and 经 (jīng) as 'pass through' or 'navigate.' Imagine walking through a long, winding historical path that represents the various experiences you have endured. The character structure visually suggests a journey through time.

Meanings of 历经

lìjīng(li4jing1)
1to experience
2to go through
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 历经

历经Simplified
歷經Traditional
12Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 历经

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Podcast: 历经

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AI Study Notes for 历经

Quick Contrast

历经 (to experience, endure) vs 经历 (to undergo, experience) — use 历经 for emphasis on enduring over time.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 历经 with similar words like 经历 (jīnglì), which also means 'to experience' but has a slightly different nuance. 历经 is more formal and often used in written language, while 经历 can be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 历经风雨 (to go through hardships).

HSK Study Tips

While 历经 is not a specific HSK word, it connects with HSK 5 vocabulary like 经历 (jīnglì) and 经验 (jīngyàn). Focus on understanding the context in which 历经 is used compared to these related terms, as it often emphasizes the passage of time and endurance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 历经 with 经历, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我历经了这个事情' instead of '我经历了这个事情' (I experienced this matter) is incorrect; 历经 is not used in this context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 历经

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Component Characters

历lìcalendar
HSK 34 strokes厂
View full entry
经Jīngclassics
HSK 78 strokes纟
View full entry

How to say to experience in Chinese

“to experience” in Chinese is历经lìjīng

历经 means 'to experience' or 'to go through' something, often referring to enduring events or processes over time. It is commonly used in contexts discussing personal experiences, hardships, or significant events in one’s life or history.

When to use 历经

Be cautious not to confuse 历经 with similar words like 经历 (jīnglì), which also means 'to experience' but has a slightly different nuance. 历经 is more formal and often used in written language, while 经历 can be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 历经风雨 (to go through hardships).

历经 or something close to it

历经 (to experience, endure) vs 经历 (to undergo, experience) — use 历经 for emphasis on enduring over time.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 历经 with 经历, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我历经了这个事情' instead of '我经历了这个事情' (I experienced this matter) is incorrect; 历经 is not used in this context.

Write 历经

历
经

Practice writing 历经 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Common Confusions with 历经

历经vs历
lì

Similar shape and sound, but 历经 emphasizes the process of experiencing.

历经vs经
jīng

Both characters are components of 历经, but 经 is also used in different contexts.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to experience"?

or

Cultural Notes for 历经

💡Did you know?

'历经' is often used in Chinese literature to describe a character's journey through hardships, emphasizing resilience and growth. This reflects the cultural value placed on perseverance.

Frequently Asked Questions about 历经

Yes, synonyms for 历经 include 经历 (jīng lì), which also means 'to experience' or 'undergo.' Both words can describe the act of going through events or processes.

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