练就 (liàn jiù) — to master (a skill) through sustained practice

Definition

练就 means to master or acquire a skill through long, hard practice — it emphasizes the result of sustained training rather than the training itself. Often used for impressive skills (扎实的基本功, 一手好字).

verb
to master (a skill) through sustained practice

Examples

  • ，练就。
    Tā huā shí nián kǔ liàn, zhōng yú liàn jiù le yì shǒu hǎo zì.
    He practiced hard for ten years and finally mastered beautiful calligraphy.
  • 练就。
    Zhè mén shǒu yì xū yào cháng qī fǎn fù liàn xí cái néng liàn jiù.
    This craft requires long-term repeated practice to master.
  • 练就。
    Tā zài wǔ dǎo xué xiào liàn jiù le zhā shi de jī běn gōng.
    She acquired solid basic skills at the dance school.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

练liànpractice
就jiùaccomplish

“练” (practice) and “就” (accomplish) combine to mean become skilled through practice.

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.

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 →

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

An older form paired 享, a temple, with 京, a tower, showing sacrifice at a high place; in 就 the temple part was dropped and a right part for going upward was added.

Open 就 →

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