干练 (gàn liàn) — capable and experienced

Definition

Describes a person who is both capable and seasoned in their work — efficient and experienced. The 干 emphasizes skill and decisiveness, 练 highlights polish from practice.

adjective
capable and experienced

Examples

  • 干练。
    gàn liàn De jīng lǐ hěn kuài jiù chǔ lǐ le wèn tí.
    The capable and experienced manager quickly handled the problem.
  • 干练。
    Zhè wèi mì shū zuò shì fēi cháng gàn liàn.
    This secretary works very capably and efficiently.
  • 干练。
    Tā bǐ gāng lái de shí hou gàn liàn duō le.
    He is much more capable and experienced than when he first arrived.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

干gāncapable
练liànskilled

干 suggests efficient doing, 练 suggests practiced skill, together describing capable experience.

Characters in this word

The simplified 干 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (饼干, 干杯) it is 乾; in others (干, 干活儿) (干扰) it is 幹 or 干.

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 乾; 干 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
乙乙yǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
倝
倝gàn乾gān
Same sound today
Open 干 →

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 練; 练 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
柬
柬jiǎn練liàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 練 has 糸, silk, and 柬, which gives the sound. The simplified 练 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not historical.

Open 练 →

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