久经考验 (jiǔ jīng kǎo yàn) — well-tested and proven over a long period; seasoned

Definition

An idiom for a person or thing that has been tested and proven reliable over a long time. Used to praise durability and trustworthiness, more literary than everyday '经验丰富'.

verb
well-tested and proven over a long periodseasoned

Examples

  • 久经考验。
    Tā shì yí wèi jiǔ jīng kǎo yàn de zhàn shì.
    He is a seasoned warrior.
  • 久经考验，。
    Zhè ge pǐn pái jiǔ jīng kǎo yàn, zhí dé xìn lài.
    This brand has been tested over time and is trustworthy.
  • 久经考验，。
    Wǒ men de yǒu yì jiǔ jīng kǎo yàn, cóng wèi gǎi biàn.
    Our friendship has been tested over time and has never changed.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.

Open 久 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 耂耂lǎoan old man with long hair, bent over
  • 丂丂kǎoa walking cane

In 考, the upper 耂 is an old man with long hair, bent over, and the lower 丂 is a walking cane.

Open 考 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 驗; 验 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎ
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān驗yàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 驗 pairs 馬 (horse) with 僉 for sound; the simplified 验 is a later abbreviation.

Open 验 →

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