老练

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.