====== lǎoliàn: 老练 - Seasoned, Experienced, Worldly ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** laolian, 老练, meaning of 老练, Chinese for experienced, seasoned in Chinese, worldly, veteran, sophisticated, expert, skilled, how to use 老练, HSK 6 word
  * **Summary:** 老练 (lǎoliàn) is a highly positive Chinese adjective used to describe someone who is seasoned, experienced, and sophisticated in handling complex situations. More than just "experienced," 老练 implies a calm, proficient, and worldly wisdom gained through practice, allowing a person to navigate professional or social challenges with impressive ease. It's the quality you admire in a veteran diplomat, a shrewd business negotiator, or a skilled manager who never seems to break a sweat under pressure.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** lǎoliàn
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** Describes a person as seasoned, experienced, and proficient in handling affairs.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine a person who has seen it all before. They don't get flustered, they make smart decisions, and they handle things with a smooth, almost effortless competence. That's the feeling of 老练. It's not just about having worked for many years; it's about having internalized the lessons from that experience to become truly masterful. It conveys deep respect for someone's practical wisdom and capability.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **老 (lǎo):** The most common meaning is "old," "senior," or "venerable." It brings the dimension of time, suggesting wisdom that has been accumulated over a long period.
  * **练 (liàn):** This character means "to practice," "to train," or "to refine a skill." It implies a process of repeated effort and honing one's abilities.
  * When combined, **老练 (lǎoliàn)** literally translates to "old practice." The two characters create a powerful image of someone whose skills and judgment have been sharpened and perfected through long years of real-world training, resulting in a state of masterful competence.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * In Chinese culture, age and experience are traditionally held in high regard. The concept of 老练 is a direct reflection of this value. It's the embodiment of the wisdom that is believed to come not just from books, but from facing and overcoming countless real-world challenges. A person described as 老练 is seen as a reliable and valuable asset, whether in a family, a company, or a government.
  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** A close Western equivalent might be "a seasoned pro" or "a veteran." However, there's a subtle difference. While "a veteran" might describe a soldier with extensive combat experience, 老练 often carries a broader, more sophisticated connotation that includes social and political adeptness. A 老练 person isn't just technically skilled; they are also **worldly**, understanding the unspoken rules and navigating complex interpersonal dynamics with finesse. They possess a kind of shrewd wisdom that goes beyond mere job-related experience.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * 老练 is almost always a compliment and is used to express admiration for someone's professional or social competence. It's appropriate in both formal and informal settings, though it carries a sense of weight and respect.
  * **In Business:** It's high praise for a negotiator, manager, or salesperson. "他处理客户投诉的方式非常**老练**" (His way of handling customer complaints is very seasoned).
  * **In Politics/Diplomacy:** It's a key attribute for a successful diplomat or politician who can navigate tense situations calmly.
  * **General Praise:** It can be used to describe anyone who demonstrates remarkable skill and composure, even a young person. Describing a young person as 老练 is a particularly high compliment, suggesting they have a maturity and capability beyond their years.
  * **Connotation:** While overwhelmingly positive, in very rare contexts, it can hint at someone being a bit too wily or slick. However, the primary and most common usage is one of praise and respect. For a more negative connotation of "sly" or "cunning," a word like [[圆滑]] (yuánhuá) is more common.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 这位外交官在谈判中表现得非常**老练**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè wèi wàijiāoguān zài tánpàn zhōng biǎoxiàn de fēicháng **lǎoliàn**.
    * English: This diplomat appeared very seasoned and masterful during the negotiations.
    * Analysis: This is a classic use of 老练, praising the diplomat's skill, calmness, and experience in a high-stakes situation.
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 他年纪不大，但处理问题的方式却很**老练**。
    * Pinyin: Tā niánjì bù dà, dàn chǔlǐ wèntí de fāngshì què hěn **lǎoliàn**.
    * English: He's not old, but his way of handling problems is very mature and experienced.
    * Analysis: This highlights that 老练 isn't strictly about age. It's a high compliment for a young person who shows wisdom beyond their years.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 面对记者的尖锐提问，他给出了**老练**的回答。
    * Pinyin: Miànduì jìzhě de jiānruì tíwèn, tā gěichūle **lǎoliàn** de huídá.
    * English: Facing the reporter's sharp questions, he gave a sophisticated and politic answer.
    * Analysis: Here, 老练 modifies "answer" (回答), describing the response itself as being skillful, well-crafted, and indicative of an experienced person.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 作为一名**老练**的经理，她总能让团队保持高昂的士气。
    * Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng **lǎoliàn** de jīnglǐ, tā zǒng néng ràng tuánduì bǎochí gāo'áng de shìqì.
    * English: As a seasoned manager, she can always keep the team's morale high.
    * Analysis: This example shows 老练 used to describe a professional role, linking the person's experience directly to their positive results.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 他的写作手法十分**老练**，完全不像一个新手。
    * Pinyin: Tā de xiězuò shǒufǎ shífēn **lǎoliàn**, wánquán bù xiàng yī gè xīnshǒu.
    * English: His writing technique is very polished and sophisticated; he doesn't seem like a novice at all.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates that 老练 can also apply to creative or technical skills, implying a level of mastery that comes from extensive practice.
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 在生意场上，他比我**老练**得多。
    * Pinyin: Zài shēngyì chǎng shàng, tā bǐ wǒ **lǎoliàn** de duō.
    * English: In the business world, he is much more worldly and experienced than I am.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses 老练 in a comparative structure (比...得多) to contrast levels of experience and practical wisdom.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 只有**老练**的船长才能驾驭这样的大风大浪。
    * Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu **lǎoliàn** de chuánzhǎng cáinéng jiàyù zhèyàng de dàfēngdàlàng.
    * English: Only a veteran captain can handle such strong winds and big waves.
    * Analysis: This emphasizes that certain challenges require not just knowledge, but the deep, ingrained skill that defines someone as 老练.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 她的沉着冷静显示出她是一个**老练**的律师。
    * Pinyin: Tā de chénzhuó lěngjìng xiǎnshì chū tā shì yī gè **lǎoliàn** de lǜshī.
    * English: Her composure and calmness show that she is a seasoned lawyer.
    * Analysis: This example links an observable quality (calmness) to the underlying trait of being 老练.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 跟他打交道要小心，他是个很**老练**的对手。
    * Pinyin: Gēn tā dǎjiādào yào xiǎoxīn, tā shì gè hěn **lǎoliàn** de duìshǒu.
    * English: Be careful when dealing with him; he is a very shrewd and experienced opponent.
    * Analysis: In a competitive context, 老练 still implies respect for the opponent's skill, even while serving as a warning.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 从他**老练**的眼神中，我看得出他经历了很多事。
    * Pinyin: Cóng tā **lǎoliàn** de yǎnshén zhōng, wǒ kàn de chū tā jīnglì le hěn duō shì.
    * English: From his worldly-wise eyes, I could tell he had been through a lot.
    * Analysis: This usage is more abstract, describing a person's gaze or demeanor as reflecting their deep life experience.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **老练 (lǎoliàn) vs. 有经验 (yǒu jīngyàn):** This is the most important distinction for learners.
    * **有经验 (yǒu jīngyàn)** simply means "to have experience." It is a neutral statement of fact. (e.g., "他有十年工作经验" - He has ten years of work experience).
    * **老练 (lǎoliàn)** is a qualitative judgment. It means someone is skillful, calm, and effective //because of// their experience. The person with ten years of experience might still be clumsy and ineffective, so he is 有经验 but not 老练. 老练 is the desired outcome of experience.
  * **老练 (lǎoliàn) vs. 成熟 (chéngshú):**
    * **成熟 (chéngshú)** means "mature," and usually refers to a person's emotional development, personality, and general outlook on life.
    * **老练 (lǎoliàn)** refers more specifically to one's competence and skill in handling practical matters, especially in a professional or social context. You can be emotionally mature (成熟) but still be a novice (新手) in a new job, and therefore not yet 老练 in that field.
  * **Common Mistake:** Do not use 老练 to describe a skill itself, like a language.
    * **Incorrect:** 我的中文很老练。 (Wǒ de Zhōngwén hěn lǎoliàn.)
    * **Why it's wrong:** 老练 describes a //person's// character and ability to handle situations. You are describing your Chinese proficiency.
    * **Correct:** 我的中文很流利 (liúlì - fluent) or 很地道 (dìdào - authentic).
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[经验]] (jīngyàn) - Experience. The raw material one needs to become 老练.
  * [[成熟]] (chéngshú) - Mature. Relates to emotional and personal development, while 老练 is about practical competence.
  * [[干练]] (gànliàn) - Capable and efficient. Similar to 老练, but emphasizes efficiency and getting things done, with less focus on worldly wisdom or social smoothness.
  * [[老手]] (lǎoshǒu) - Noun: An old hand, a veteran, an expert. A person who is a 老手 is almost always 老练 in their behavior.
  * [[老江湖]] (lǎojiānghú) - Noun: Lit. "old rivers and lakes." Refers to a very worldly-wise person, a veteran of society who knows all the tricks. Can have a slightly gritty, street-smart connotation.
  * [[圆滑]] (yuánhuá) - Slick, smooth, slippery. Describes someone who is socially adept but often in a self-serving or untrustworthy way. A negative counterpart to the positive social skills of being 老练.
  * [[世故]] (shìgù) - Worldly, sophisticated, but often with a cynical or jaded connotation. Knows how the world works, for better or worse.
  * [[新手]] (xīnshǒu) - Antonym: A novice, a beginner.
  * [[菜鸟]] (càiniǎo) - Antonym (slang): A newbie, a greenhorn, a rookie. The polar opposite of someone who is 老练.