Gèrén Fāzhǎn: 个人发展 - Personal Development

Keywords: 个人发展, 自我提升, 职业发展, 成长, 自我完善, 终身学习, 人生规划, 能力提升, 个人成长, 自我实现

Summary: 个人发展 (Gèrén Fāzhǎn) stands as one of the most frequently encountered and culturally significant terms in contemporary Chinese professional and personal discourse. Literally translating to “personal development” or “individual growth,” this concept transcends its dictionary definition to embody a fundamental philosophy of self-improvement that permeates Chinese education, corporate culture, and social expectations. In a society that highly values continuous learning and measurable progress, 个人发展 represents both an individual right and a social obligation. Unlike its Western counterparts, which often emphasize personal happiness or self-fulfillment as primary motivations, the Chinese understanding of 个人发展 weaves together individual ambition with family expectations, societal contribution, and career advancement into a complex tapestry of growth expectations. For English speakers learning Chinese, mastering this term goes beyond vocabulary acquisition—it requires understanding how modern China conceptualizes the relationship between the individual and the collective, and how personal ambition is channeled through culturally specific pathways toward socially approved outcomes.

Pinyin: Gèrén Fāzhǎn

Part of Speech: Noun phrase (can function as verb with context)

HSK Level: This term is not part of standard HSK vocabulary lists, but it appears frequently in advanced Chinese materials, business Chinese courses, and contemporary media. Proficiency with this term is essential for anyone operating in professional or academic Chinese environments.

Concise Definition: Personal development; individual growth; the process of improving oneself through learning, skill acquisition, and self-refinement.

If 个人发展 were a person, it would be the ambitious only child of a traditional Chinese family who has internalized the Confucian imperative of self-cultivation (修身) while simultaneously absorbing the modern imperative of competitive achievement. The “vibe” of this term is distinctly forward-leaning, optimistic, and slightly demanding—it carries an implicit suggestion that one should be actively engaged in the process of becoming a better version of oneself, not merely for personal satisfaction, but for the benefit of family reputation, career advancement, and social contribution.

The soul of 个人发展 lies in its dual nature: it is simultaneously personal and social. While the term explicitly mentions “individual” (个人), the Chinese cultural context ensures that this individual growth never exists in isolation. The person developing themselves is always developing in directions approved by family expectations, social norms, and professional standards. This creates a fascinating tension that Western learners often miss—the term sounds individualistic in translation, but its Chinese usage carries strong collectivist undertones.

Consider the emotional register of 个人发展: it evokes feelings of aspiration, forward momentum, and purposeful activity. When a Chinese person hears this term, they might feel motivated, slightly pressured, or inspired depending on their life circumstances. The term does not carry the leisurely, self-indulgent connotations that “personal development” might have in some Western contexts. Instead, it suggests disciplined effort, goal-oriented growth, and measurable improvement.

To understand 个人发展 fully, we must trace its semantic evolution through Chinese history and into the modern era.

Classical Roots:

The two components of 个人发展 have deep classical roots. The character 人 (rén), meaning “person” or “human,” appears in Chinese texts dating back over three thousand years. The concept of the individual in Chinese philosophy, however, has always been understood in relation to others—the famous Confucian statement “君子求诸己，小人求诸人” (A noble person seeks the cause within himself; a petty person seeks it in others) establishes early that self-examination and self-improvement are virtues tied to moral development rather than personal satisfaction.

发展 (Fāzhǎn), meaning “development” or “growth,” combines 发 (fā, “to emit, to expand, to arise”) and 展 (zhǎn, “to unfold, to spread, to extend”). This compound emphasizes the idea of unfolding potential, spreading one's capabilities, and extending one's reach. In classical texts, 发展 was used sparingly, often in contexts describing the expansion of political influence or the growth of ideas.

The Synthesis in Modern China:

The specific combination of 个人发展 as a unified concept emerged primarily in the 20th century, gaining particular momentum after China's opening-up reforms of the late 1970s and 1980s. During this period, the Chinese government began emphasizing individual potential as part of national development strategies, creating space for personal ambition within the socialist framework. The 发展 itself became a keyword of the reform era—Deng Xiaoping's famous phrase “发展是硬道理” (Development is the hard truth) elevated 发展 to a national mantra.

Within this context, 个人发展 crystallized as the bridge between national development goals and individual aspirations. It absorbed elements of Western self-improvement philosophy while remaining grounded in traditional Chinese values of hard work, education, and family contribution. The term became especially prominent in:

1. Educational contexts: Schools began emphasizing 个人发展 as part of holistic education, moving beyond pure academic achievement to include moral development, physical fitness, and artistic cultivation.
2. Corporate environments: Human resources departments adopted 个人发展 plans as standard practice, linking individual growth trajectories with organizational objectives.
3. Government policies: Social welfare systems began incorporating 个人发展 concepts, framing self-improvement as a component of social stability and economic productivity.

Contemporary Usage:

Today, 个人发展 appears in virtually every context where individual growth is discussed. It has developed several specialized usages:

1. 个人发展计划 (Gèrén Fāzhǎn Jìhuà): Personal Development Plan (PDP), a formal document outlining an individual's growth objectives, commonly used in corporate settings.

1. 个人发展目标 (Gèrén Fāzhǎn Mùbiāo): Personal development goals, specific objectives within the broader concept.

1. 个人发展需求 (Gèrén Fāzhǎn Xūqiú): Personal development needs, the gaps between current abilities and desired competencies.

The term has also spawned a minor industry of self-help literature, coaching services, and educational products, all centered on the premise that 个人发展 is both a personal responsibility and a pathway to social success.

To truly master 个人发展, one must understand how it relates to and differs from conceptually similar terms. The following table maps the semantic territory of 个人发展 against related concepts in contemporary Chinese.

Key Distinctions:

The most important distinction to understand is between 个人发展 and 自我提升. While both refer to improving oneself, 个人发展 carries a stronger social and structural dimension. When a Chinese manager discusses an employee's 个人发展, they are likely considering how that employee's growth aligns with organizational needs, team dynamics, and career progression within the company hierarchy. 自我提升, by contrast, can be more purely about personal preference—one might engage in 自我提升 through a hobby or personal interest that has no immediate professional application.

职业发展 is essentially a subset of 个人发展 focused specifically on the professional dimension. A 个人发展 plan might include 职业发展 goals (career advancement) alongside personal health objectives, relationship improvements, or educational pursuits.

成长 represents the most organic and least structured of these concepts. A child 成长 (grows up), a business 成长 (expands), or a person 成长 (matures emotionally). Unlike 个人发展, which implies deliberate effort and planning, 成长 can happen naturally through life experience.

自我实现 brings Western psychological concepts into Chinese vocabulary, influenced by Maslow's hierarchy of needs and humanistic psychology. While 个人发展 and 自我实现 can overlap significantly, 自我实现 often implies pursuing one's authentic desires and potential rather than socially approved goals. In conservative Chinese contexts, 自我实现 might carry slightly negative connotations of selfishness if not properly balanced with social responsibilities.

The Workplace:

个人发展 is perhaps most at home in professional environments, where it has become a cornerstone of human resources philosophy. Its workplace usage carries several distinctive characteristics:

Formality Level: High. In corporate settings, 个人发展 is used in formal documents, official communications, and structured programs. Phrases like “个人发展计划” (Personal Development Plan) and “个人发展目标” appear in performance review templates, training documents, and corporate strategy papers.

Power Dynamics: The term often originates from management or HR departments rather than individual employees. A supervisor might ask an employee about their 个人发展 goals, or a company might offer 个人发展 opportunities (training programs, mentorship, educational benefits) as part of its value proposition to current and potential employees. Employees typically respond to rather than initiate 个人发展 discussions, though this dynamic is evolving in younger generations.

Typical Corporate Phrases:

1. “公司重视员工的个人发展。” (Gōngsī zhòngshì yuángōng de gèrén fāzhǎn) — “The company values employee personal development.”
2. “我们需要讨论一下你的个人发展计划。” (Wǒmen xūyào tǎolùn yīxià nǐ de gèrén fāzhǎn jìhuà) — “We need to discuss your personal development plan.”
3. “参加这个培训项目是你的个人发展机会。” (Cānjiā zhège pèxùn xiàngmù shì nǐ de gèrén fāzhǎn jīhuì) — “Participating in this training program is your personal development opportunity.”

Where It Fails:

个人发展 can feel awkward or inappropriate in several contexts:

1. Overemphasis in Social Settings: Discussing your personal development goals at a family dinner or casual social gathering might strike Chinese listeners as overly formal or self-important. The term belongs more naturally in professional or educational contexts.
2. As Excuse for Selfishness: If 个人发展 is used to justify neglecting family responsibilities or social obligations, it will be viewed negatively. The Chinese understanding of appropriate self-improvement requires that individual growth ultimately serves larger social purposes.
3. Inherited Expectations vs. Personal Choice: Younger Chinese sometimes express frustration with 个人发展 as a concept imposed by parents or employers rather than emerging from personal desire. The term works best when it represents genuine aspiration rather than external pressure.

Social Media & Slang:

In digital spaces, 个人发展 takes on different characteristics:

Gen-Z Usage: Young Chinese on platforms like Weibo, Douyin, and Bilibili sometimes use 个人发展 with a touch of irony or self-awareness. Phrases like “我的个人发展就是躺平” (My personal development is lying flat) subvert the term's earnest connotations, expressing frustration with competitive expectations while technically engaging with the vocabulary of self-improvement.

Motivational Content: On Douyin and Xiaohongshu (RED), 个人发展 is ubiquitous in motivational and lifestyle content. Influencers often discuss their personal development journeys, creating aspirational content about productivity, habit-building, and goal achievement. This content often blends Chinese and Western self-improvement concepts.

Self-Deprecating Humor: The term sometimes appears in memes or humorous posts where users joke about their failure to engage in personal development—“每天说要个人发展，结果就是在床上刷手机” (Every day I say I'll engage in personal development, but actually I just scroll my phone in bed).

The Hidden Codes:

Beyond its surface meaning, 个人发展 carries several unwritten social codes in Chinese usage:

1. The Obligation to Improve: In Chinese professional culture, engaging in 个人发展 is often assumed rather than optional. Employees who do not pursue personal development may be viewed as lacking ambition or commitment. This creates subtle pressure to always be “improving” even when personal development programs are officially voluntary.

2. Alignment with Authority Goals: Genuine 个人发展 in the Chinese workplace typically means developing skills and qualities that serve organizational objectives. Developing capabilities entirely unrelated to one's job or company may not count as legitimate 个人发展 in performance reviews.

3. The Family Dimension: While 个人发展 focuses on the individual, Chinese users often implicitly understand that individual growth benefits family. Mentioning 个人发展 in family contexts may invoke discussions of marriage prospects, financial contributions, or honoring ancestors through achievement.

4. Educational Foundation: In Chinese usage, 个人发展 often assumes educational attainment as a baseline. The term more commonly describes post-educational development rather than childhood learning, which would more likely be called 成长 or 教育.

5. Measurable Outcomes: Unlike some Western concepts of personal development that value process over outcomes, Chinese expectations of 个人发展 often require visible results. Better job, higher salary, promoted position—these tangible outcomes validate the personal development process.

The following examples illustrate 个人发展 in diverse real-world contexts, with analysis of nuance and usage.

Example 1: Corporate Performance Review

Chinese Sentence: 经理建议我把个人发展目标与本季度的销售指标结合起来。

Pinyin: Jīnglǐ jiànyì wǒ bǎ gèrén fāzhǎn mùbiāo yǔ běn jìdù de xiāoshòu zhǐbiāo jiéhé qǐlái.

English: The manager suggested I combine my personal development goals with this quarter's sales targets.

Deep Analysis: This example demonstrates the typical power dynamic in 个人发展 discussions. The manager takes the initiative, guiding the employee's personal development in a direction that serves organizational needs. The phrase 结合 (jiéhé, “combine”) is crucial—it shows how Chinese corporate culture expects personal and organizational goals to merge rather than exist in tension.

Example 2: Career Counseling

Chinese Sentence: 大学生应该在毕业前就制定好自己的个人发展计划。

Pinyin: Dàxuéshēng yīnggāi zài bìyè qián jiù zhìdìng hǎo zìjǐ de gèrén fāzhǎn jìhuà.

English: College students should formulate their personal development plans before graduation.

Deep Analysis: This example reflects the strong Chinese emphasis on planning and preparation. The expectation that students should have 个人发展计划 before even entering the workforce illustrates how deeply embedded the concept is in Chinese career culture. It also reveals the proactive, future-oriented mindset valued in modern China.

Example 3: Training Opportunity

Chinese Sentence: 公司提供的海外培训项目是难得的个人发展机会。

Pinyin: Gōngsī tígōng de hǎiwài pèixùn xiàngmù shì nándé de gèrén fāzhǎn jīhuì.

English: The overseas training program offered by the company is a rare personal development opportunity.

Deep Analysis: The phrase 难得的 (nándé de, “rare, hard to come by”) adds emotional weight, suggesting that 个人发展 opportunities are valuable resources to be seized. This reflects the competitive nature of professional development in China, where such opportunities are often limited and highly sought after.

Example 4: Personal Reflection

Chinese Sentence: 我花了几天时间思考自己的个人发展方向。

Pinyin: Wǒ huāle jǐ tiān shíjiān sīkǎo zìjǐ de gèrén fāzhǎn fāngxiàng.

English: I spent a few days thinking about my personal development direction.

Deep Analysis: This example shows 个人发展 in a more introspective context. The phrase 方向 (fāngxiàng, “direction”) is significant—it suggests that personal development is understood as having a trajectory, a path that one chooses and follows. The use of 思考 (sīkǎo, “think deeply, reflect”) indicates serious, contemplative engagement with one's growth.

Example 5: Comprehensive Self-Improvement

Chinese Sentence: 个人发展不仅仅包括职业技能，还包括沟通能力和情商提升。

Pinyin: Gèrén fāzhǎn bùjǐn bāokuò zhíyè jìnéng, hái bāokuò gōutōng nénglì hé qíngshāng tíshēng.

English: Personal development includes not only professional skills but also communication abilities and emotional intelligence improvement.

Deep Analysis: This example clarifies the comprehensive scope of 个人发展. The use of 不仅…还… (bùjǐn…hái…, “not only… but also…”) structure emphasizes breadth. The inclusion of 情商 (qíngshāng, “emotional quotient/EQ”) reveals the influence of Western psychology on Chinese 个人发展 concepts, as traditional Chinese education focused more on academic achievement than emotional intelligence.

Example 6: University Application Context

Chinese Sentence: 在个人陈述中，他阐述了未来五年的个人发展目标。

Pinyin: Zài gèrén chénshù zhōng, tā chǎnshù le wèilái wǔ nián de gèrén fāzhǎn mùbiāo.

English: In his personal statement, he outlined his personal development goals for the next five years.

Deep Analysis: This example appears in an educational context, specifically university applications. The expectation that applicants articulate five-year 个人发展目标 reflects Chinese educational culture's emphasis on planning, ambition, and self-awareness. Such statements are often evaluated not only for content but for evidence of mature thinking and realistic goal-setting.

Example 7: Manager-Employee Discussion

Chinese Sentence: 让我们谈谈你在公司的个人发展诉求。

Pinyin: Ràng wǒmen tán tan nǐ zài gōngsī de gèrén fāzhǎn sùqiú.

English: Let's discuss your personal development needs within the company.

Deep Analysis: The word 诉求 (sùqiú, “appeal, demand, request”) is interesting here—it positions the employee as having legitimate claims or expectations regarding their development. This reflects evolving workplace dynamics where employees have more agency in requesting specific training or opportunities.

Example 8: Training Program Description

Chinese Sentence: 本课程旨在帮助学员实现全面的个人发展。

Pinyin: Běn kèchéng zhǐzài bāngzhù xuéyuán shíxiàn quánmiàn de gèrén fāzhǎn.

English: This course aims to help participants achieve comprehensive personal development.

Deep Analysis: The word 全面 (quánmiàn, “comprehensive, all-encompassing”) is a common modifier for 个人发展 in marketing materials and course descriptions. It suggests that true personal development is holistic, addressing multiple dimensions of the person rather than single skills.

Example 9: Government Policy Context

Chinese Sentence: 政府工作报告强调要关注公民的个人发展权利。

Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ gōngzuò bàogào qiángdiào yào guānzhù gōngmín de gèrén fāzhǎn quánlì.

English: The government work report emphasized paying attention to citizens' personal development rights.

Deep Analysis: This example situates 个人发展 in a policy context, framing personal development as a right rather than merely an obligation. This represents a shift in Chinese political discourse, increasingly acknowledging individual needs alongside collective responsibilities.

Example 10: Self-Help/Motivational Context

Chinese Sentence: 只有不断投资自己，才能实现真正的个人发展。

Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu bùduàn tóuzī zìjǐ, cái néng shíxiàn zhēnzhèng de gèrén fāzhǎn.

English: Only by continuously investing in yourself can you achieve real personal development.

Deep Analysis: The metaphor 投资 (tóuzī, “invest”) applied to oneself is characteristic of contemporary 个人发展 discourse, drawing on financial metaphors to frame self-improvement as a productive activity with expected returns. This reflects broader trends in Chinese consumer culture and the monetization of self-improvement.

Example 11: Mentorship Context

Chinese Sentence: 作为你的导师，我会帮助你规划个人发展路径。

Pinyin: Zuòwéi nǐ de dǎoshī, wǒ huì bāngzhù nǐ guīhuà gèrén fāzhǎn lùjìng.

English: As your mentor, I will help you plan your personal development path.

Deep Analysis: The phrase 路径 (lùjìng, “path, route”) reinforces the understanding of 个人发展 as a journey with a planned trajectory. The mentor-mentee relationship places 个人发展 in a guidance context, suggesting that successful development often requires external wisdom and support.

Example 12: Life Transition Context

Chinese Sentence: 辞职之后，她决定专注于个人发展，暂时不找工作。

Pinyin: Cízhí zhīhòu, tā juédìng zhuānzhù yú gèrén fāzhǎn, zànshí bù zhǎo gōngzuò.

English: After resigning, she decided to focus on personal development and temporarily not look for work.

Deep Analysis: This example shows 个人发展 as a valid justification for leaving employment, a concept that would have been difficult to articulate in earlier generations. The phrase 暂时 (zànshí, “temporarily”) acknowledges the unconventional nature of the choice while legitimizing it as a strategic pause rather than idleness.

For non-native speakers, 个人发展 presents several pitfalls where well-intentioned learners often stumble. Understanding these common mistakes will accelerate your journey to native-like proficiency.

Mistake 1: Treating Personal Development as Purely Selfish

Wrong: 我只关心自己的个人发展，不管别人怎么看。

Right: 我认为个人发展应该兼顾个人目标和社会责任。

Explanation: The literal translation of English “personal development” can mislead learners into thinking 个人发展 is entirely self-focused. In Chinese usage, expressions of purely selfish personal development often sound arrogant or immature. Native speakers typically frame 个人发展 with references to balance, responsibility, or contribution to others. The sentence 我只关心自己的个人发展 (I only care about my own personal development) would strike most Chinese listeners as shockingly selfish. Instead, express personal development goals in the context of how they enable you to contribute more effectively to family, organization, or society.

Mistake 2: Using It Too Casually in Social Situations

Wrong: 今天晚上我们聊个人发展吧，你觉得呢？

Right: 下周的会议上，我们可以讨论一下个人发展计划的问题。

Explanation: 个人发展 carries professional and sometimes formal connotations that make it awkward in casual conversation. Using it in a relaxed context with friends or family can sound like you're giving a corporate presentation. When discussing self-improvement in casual settings, Chinese speakers more commonly use colloquial alternatives like 提升自己 (tíshēng zìjǐ, “improve myself”), 变好 (biàn hǎo, “get better”), or simply describe specific goals like 学点新东西 (xué diǎn xīn dōngxi, “learn some new things”). Reserve 个人发展 for professional, educational, or formal contexts.

Mistake 3: Forgetting the Planning Dimension

Wrong: 我的个人发展就是顺其自然。

Right: 我的个人发展目标是明年通过注册会计师考试。

Explanation: While 顺其自然 (shùn qí zìrán, “let things take their natural course”) is a valid Chinese philosophy in many contexts, it clashes with the proactive, goal-oriented nature of 个人发展. The Chinese understanding of 个人发展 almost always implies deliberate planning, specific objectives, and measurable progress. If you want to express more passive or organic self-improvement in Chinese, use different vocabulary like 成长, 成熟 (chéngshú, “to mature”), or 顺其自然 in appropriate contexts.

Mistake 4: Overusing It When Simpler Words Would Work

Wrong: 为了个人发展，我今天要学英语。

Right: 为了提高英语水平，我今天要学习。

Explanation: Native Chinese speakers often find that English speakers overuse 个人发展 in contexts where more specific or simpler vocabulary would be more natural. If you're talking about learning a specific skill, improving a particular ability, or achieving a concrete goal, use the specific vocabulary for that activity rather than the umbrella term 个人发展. Reserve 个人发展 for discussions specifically about the comprehensive, multi-dimensional process of self-improvement.

Mistake 5: Confusing It with Career Development Only

Wrong: 我的个人发展就是升职当经理。

Right: 我的个人发展包括职业晋升、健身习惯培养和每周读一本书。

Explanation: When English speakers encounter the concept of “personal development,” they often associate it primarily with career advancement. However, Chinese 个人发展 typically encompasses a broader range of life domains including health, relationships, hobbies, mental well-being, and character development. If you reduce 个人发展 to purely career goals, you may sound one-dimensional or overly ambitious without substance. Effective 个人发展 discussions in Chinese usually include multiple domains of growth.

Mistake 6: Neglecting the Social Context

Wrong: 我制定个人发展计划时，只考虑自己的兴趣。

Right: 我在制定个人发展计划时，会参考家人的建议和市场需求。

Explanation: Chinese cultural expectations around personal development typically include input from family, mentors, and consideration of social context. While Western approaches might emphasize following your passion regardless of external opinions, Chinese usage of 个人发展 usually acknowledges the legitimacy of family expectations, market conditions, and social obligations. Showing that you've considered these factors demonstrates maturity and cultural sensitivity.

Mistake 7: Using It as an Excuse for Selfish Behavior

Wrong: 我要个人发展，所以不能参加家庭聚会。

Right: 我需要花一些时间在个人发展上，希望家人能够理解，同时也期待下次聚会。

Explanation: Using 个人发展 as a justification for neglecting family or social obligations requires careful framing in Chinese. The concept works best when balanced with acknowledgment of the importance of relationships and some expression of commitment to maintaining those connections. Simply prioritizing 个人发展 over family without explanation sounds selfish and may damage relationships.

Mistake 8: Treating It as a One-Time Event

Wrong: 我已经完成了我的个人发展。

Right: 个人发展是一个持续的过程，我每年都会制定新的目标。

Explanation: In Chinese understanding, 个人发展 is fundamentally ongoing—there is no final destination or completion point. The phrase 已经完成了 (yǐjīng wánchéngle, “have already completed”) applied to personal development would be viewed as naive or proud. Chinese discussions of 个人发展 typically emphasize continuity, lifelong learning, and constant improvement. Use phrases like 持续 (chíxù, “continuous”), 不断 (bùduàn, “constantly”), or 终身 (zhōngshēn, “lifelong”) to capture this essential characteristic.

The following terms share conceptual territory with 个人发展 and will enrich your understanding of self-improvement discourse in Chinese:

• 自我提升 (Zìwǒ Tíshēng) - Self-improvement; emphasizes the internal, personal dimension of growth without explicit social obligations. Often more casual than 个人发展.
• 职业发展 (Zhíyè Fāzhǎn) - Career development; the professional trajectory component of personal development. More narrowly focused than 个人发展.
• 终身学习 (Zhōngshēn Xuéxí) - Lifelong learning; emphasizes continuous education throughout life. A key value in modern Chinese society that supports 个人发展 philosophy.
• 自我实现 (Zìwǒ Shíxiàn) - Self-actualization; more philosophical and individually focused, drawing on Western psychological concepts. Can overlap with 个人发展 but emphasizes fulfillment over achievement.
• 成长 (Chéngzhǎng) - Growth; more organic and less structured than 个人发展. Can refer to physical, emotional, or circumstantial development.
• 自我完善 (Zìwǒ Wánshàn) - Self-perfection; emphasizes the ideal of becoming complete or flawless. Has more traditional, moral-philosophical connotations than modern 个人发展.
• 修身 (Xiūshēn) - Self-cultivation; the classical Chinese concept of moral and character development. Ancestral root of contemporary 个人发展 discourse.
• 自我管理 (Zìwǒ Guǎnlǐ) - Self-management; focuses on discipline, time management, and self-control as components of personal development.
• 人生规划 (Rénshēng Guīhuà) - Life planning; the broader framework within which 个人发展 goals are typically set. Emphasizes long-term vision and strategic thinking.
• 能力提升 (Nénglì Tíshēng) - Capability enhancement; specifically refers to improving competencies and skills. One component of the broader 个人发展 concept.