经历 (jīnglì)

经历 means both the lived experiences one accumulates and the act of going through an event or period, functioning as a noun and a verb.

Meanings

[noun] Experience; personal history (events one has gone through).
[verb] To experience; to go through; to live through.

Example Sentences

这次旅行是我一生中最难忘的经历。 Zhè cì lǚxíng shì wǒ yīshēng zhōng zuì nánwàng de jīnglì. This trip is the most unforgettable experience of my life.

他经历了很多困难，最终成功了。 Tā jīnglì le hěn duō kùnnan, zuìzhōng chénggōng le. He went through many difficulties and eventually succeeded.

丰富的工作经历对找工作很有帮助。 Fēngfù de gōngzuò jīnglì duì zhǎo gōngzuò hěn yǒu bāngzhù. Rich work experience is very helpful for finding a job.

她经历了失去家人的痛苦，但还是坚强地生活着。 Tā jīnglì le shīqù jiārén de tòngkǔ, dànshì háishi jiānqiáng de shēnghuó zhe. She experienced the pain of losing a family member but continued to live with strength.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
工作经历	work experience
丰富的经历	rich experience
亲身经历	personal firsthand experience
经历困难	to go through difficulties
难忘的经历	an unforgettable experience

Usage Notes

经历 emphasizes personally living through something, often over a period of time. It differs from 经验 (jīngyàn), which refers to accumulated knowledge or skill gained from experience. 经历 is more about events; 经验 is more about know-how.

Memory Hook

经 means "to pass through" and 历 means "to go through/calendar of events"; 经历 is your personal timeline of everything you have passed through.