TongTong
Sign in

在行 (zài háng) — to be adept at, to be an expert in (a trade or profession)

Definition

在行 means 'to be an expert in a trade or profession' — skilled from real hands-on experience, not book knowledge. Pairs with 对 / 在...方面; stronger and more field-specific than 熟悉.

verb
to be adept atto be an expert in (a trade or profession)

Examples

  • 在行。
    Tā duì diàn nǎo wéi xiū hěn zài háng.
    He is very adept at computer repair.
  • 。
    Wǒ zài zhè fāng miàn bú tài zài háng.
    I'm not very experienced in this area.
  • 。
    Tā zuò shén me dōu hěn zài háng.
    She is good at everything she does.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

在zàibe in
行xíngtrade

在行 joins 在, being in, with 行, a trade, to express skill in that line.

Characters in this word

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

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.