本领 (běn lǐng) — skill; ability; capability | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

本领 emphasizes practical skill you've developed through practice. Pairs with 项/个; compare 能力 (general ability) and 技能 (technical/vocational skill).

noun

skillabilitycapability

Measure word · 项, 个

Examples

本领。
Tā yǒu yí xiàng liǎo bù qǐ de běn lǐng.
He has an amazing skill.
本领。
Zhè zhǒng běn lǐng xū yào cháng qī liàn xí.
This kind of ability requires long-term practice.
本领。
Tā de běn lǐng zài gōng zuò zhōng dé dào le fā huī.
His skills were put to use in his work.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

"本" and "领" refer to root and collar, the key parts; together they mean skill.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

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 領; 领 is its simplified writing.

令頁領

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yè

Sound part声符shēngfú

令

令lìng領lǐng

Same sound today

The traditional form 領 has 令 as a sound part and 頁 as a meaning part; the simplified 领 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Abstract Concepts

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