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行家 (háng jia) — expert, connoisseur, veteran (in a particular field)

Definition

行家 emphasizes hands-on experience and taste, not academic credentials — closer to 内行 ('insider') than to 专家 ('credentialed specialist'). Often used for connoisseurs of food, antiques, calligraphy, etc.

noun
expertconnoisseurveteran (in a particular field)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 行家。
    Tā shì yí wèi zhēn zhèng de hóng jiǔ háng jia.
    He is a true connoisseur of red wine.
  • 行家。
    Mǎi zhū bǎo zhī qián zuì hǎo wèn wèn háng jia de yì jiàn.
    It's best to ask an expert's opinion before buying jewelry.
  • ，行家。
    Zài shū fǎ fāng miàn, tā suàn dé shàng shì gè lǎo háng jia le.
    In calligraphy, he can be considered a veteran expert.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

行xíngtrade
家jiāperson

行 refers to a trade, and 家 names the person skilled in it.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢑓
𢑓𢑓家jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The early drawing of 家 showed a roof 宀 over a male-pig sign 𢑓 that gave the pronunciation; the lower part later changed shape.

Open 家 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Professions & Jobs

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