xùnliàn: 训练 - to Train, to Drill, Training

• Keywords: xunlian, 训练, how to say training in Chinese, Chinese word for training, train in Chinese, practice in Chinese, drill in Chinese, sports training Chinese, military training, job training, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 训练 (xùnliàn), the essential Chinese word for “training” and “drilling.” This page breaks down how to use 训练 for everything from sports and military drills to job training and even teaching your dog new tricks. Learn the cultural significance of disciplined practice in China and understand the key differences between 训练 (xùnliàn), 学习 (xuéxí), and 练习 (liànxí) to use it like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xùnliàn
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To train or drill a skill, or the process of such training.
• In a Nutshell: 训练 (xùnliàn) refers to a structured, systematic process of repetitive practice aimed at improving a specific skill, physical ability, or performance. It’s not about casually learning a new fact; it’s about targeted, disciplined work to build muscle memory, endurance, or professional competence. Think of a coach leading drills, a sergeant commanding recruits, or a company running a new software workshop.

• 训 (xùn): This character means “to teach,” “to instruct,” or “to admonish.” The left radical, 言 (yán), means “speech” or “words.” The right side, 川 (chuān), means “river.” You can picture it as a “flow of instructions” or “words of guidance” being given. It implies a degree of authority and discipline in the teaching.
• 练 (liàn): This character means “to practice,” “to drill,” or “to refine.” The left radical, 纟(sī), is the “silk” radical. The original meaning of 练 involved boiling raw silk to refine it, making it white and soft. This is a perfect metaphor for the process of refining a raw skill through repeated practice.
• Together, 训练 (xùnliàn) combines the idea of “disciplined instruction” (训) with “refining through practice” (练) to form the powerful concept of systematic training.

In Chinese culture, 训练 (xùnliàn) is deeply connected to the value of 吃苦 (chīkǔ), which literally means “to eat bitterness” but translates to “enduring hardship.” The path to mastery in any field—be it martial arts, calligraphy, or academics—is often seen as requiring immense discipline, repetition, and a willingness to endure grueling practice. 训练 is the vehicle for this process. Compared to the general English word “training,” 训练 (xùnliàn) can carry a stronger connotation of rigor, intensity, and adherence to a strict regimen. While Western training can certainly be intense, the Chinese concept is often more rooted in a top-down, teacher-student or commander-soldier dynamic where the trainee is expected to follow instructions without question to perfect a form or skill. This contrasts with some modern Western coaching philosophies that may emphasize collaboration and self-discovery more heavily. The underlying belief is that through disciplined 训练, one not only masters a skill but also forges a stronger, more resilient character.

训练 is a versatile and common word used across many domains. The context dictates the specific type of training.

• Sports and Fitness: This is one of the most common uses. It refers to the structured drills and conditioning that athletes undergo.
  • e.g., `篮球训练 (lánqiú xùnliàn)` - basketball training, `体能训练 (tǐnéng xùnliàn)` - physical fitness/stamina training.
• Military: 训练 is the standard term for military drills and training exercises.
  • e.g., `军事训练 (jūnshì xùnliàn)` - military training.
• Professional and Vocational: It refers to job-specific skill development.
  • e.g., `新员工训练 (xīn yuángōng xùnliàn)` - new employee training, `职业训练 (zhíyè xùnliàn)` - vocational training.
• Animal Training: The word is used for training animals.
  • e.g., `我在训练我的狗坐下 (wǒ zài xùnliàn wǒ de gǒu zuòxià)` - I am training my dog to sit.

The connotation is generally neutral, simply describing a process, but it always implies structure and a clear objective.

• Example 1:
  • 运动员每天都要进行好几个小时的训练。
  • Pinyin: Yùndòngyuán měitiān dōu yào jìnxíng hǎo jǐ ge xiǎoshí de xùnliàn.
  • English: Athletes have to undergo several hours of training every day.
  • Analysis: Here, 训练 is used as a noun to refer to the daily training regimen of an athlete.
• Example 2:
  • 教练正在训练足球队的新成员。
  • Pinyin: Jiàoliàn zhèngzài xùnliàn zúqiúduì de xīn chéngyuán.
  • English: The coach is training the new members of the soccer team.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 训练 is a verb, showing the action of the coach training the players.
• Example 3:
  • 这次军事训练的目的是提高士兵的作战能力。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì jūnshì xùnliàn de mùdì shì tígāo shìbīng de zuòzhàn nénglì.
  • English: The purpose of this military training is to improve the soldiers' combat capabilities.
  • Analysis: This shows a very common and formal use of 训练 in a military context, where it functions as a noun.
• Example 4:
  • 我们公司下周有新软件的训练。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī xià zhōu yǒu xīn ruǎnjiàn de xùnliàn.
  • English: Our company has a training for the new software next week.
  • Analysis: A typical example from a business context. Here, 训练 is a noun, often interchangeable with 培训 (péixùn) in this scenario.
• Example 5:
  • 训练小狗需要很多耐心。
  • Pinyin: Xùnliàn xiǎo gǒu xūyào hěn duō nàixīn.
  • English: Training a puppy requires a lot of patience.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 训练 can be used as a verb at the beginning of a sentence, acting as the subject (“The act of training a puppy…”).
• Example 6:
  • 他去健身房是为了进行力量训练。
  • Pinyin: Tā qù jiànshēnfáng shì wèile jìnxíng lìliàng xùnliàn.
  • English: He goes to the gym to do strength training.
  • Analysis: `力量训练 (lìliàng xùnliàn)` is a set phrase for “strength training,” a common term in fitness.
• Example 7:
  • 为了克服舞台恐惧，她参加了公开演讲训练。
  • Pinyin: Wèile kèfú wǔtái kǒngjù, tā cānjiā le gōngkāi yǎnjiǎng xùnliàn.
  • English: To overcome her stage fright, she participated in public speaking training.
  • Analysis: This shows 训练 can be applied to “soft skills,” not just physical ones.
• Example 8:
  • 经过严格的训练，他终于成为了一名合格的飞行员。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò yángé de xùnliàn, tā zhōngyú chéngwéi le yī míng hégé de fēixíngyuán.
  • English: After rigorous training, he finally became a qualified pilot.
  • Analysis: The adjective `严格的 (yángé de)` meaning “strict” or “rigorous” is often used to modify 训练.
• Example 9:
  • 如果你不认真训练，比赛的时候就会输。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù rènzhēn xùnliàn, bǐsài de shíhòu jiù huì shū.
  • English: If you don't train seriously, you will lose the competition.
  • Analysis: A common sentence a coach or parent might say, emphasizing the importance of dedicated training.
• Example 10:
  • 每天八小时的训练让我筋疲力尽。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān bā xiǎoshí de xùnliàn ràng wǒ jīnpílìjìn.
  • English: The eight hours of training every day leaves me exhausted.
  • Analysis: This example shows the demanding nature of 训练, using it as the subject of the sentence that causes exhaustion.

A key challenge for learners is distinguishing 训练 from similar-sounding words.

• 训练 (xùnliàn) vs. 学习 (xuéxí) - Training vs. Studying: This is the most critical distinction.
  • 学习 (xuéxí) is for acquiring knowledge, understanding concepts, or learning academic subjects. It's about what you do with your brain.
  • 训练 (xùnliàn) is for building a practical skill or physical ability through structured repetition. It's about what you do with your body or hands.
  • Incorrect: `我要训练中国历史。` (Wǒ yào xùnliàn Zhōngguó lìshǐ.) - “I want to train Chinese history.”
  • Correct: `我要学习中国历史。` (Wǒ yào xuéxí Zhōngguó lìshǐ.) - “I want to study Chinese history.”
  • Correct: `我要训练我的记忆力来学习历史。` (Wǒ yào xùnliàn wǒ de jìyìlì lái xuéxí lìshǐ.) - “I want to train my memory in order to study history.”
• 训练 (xùnliàn) vs. 练习 (liànxí) - Training vs. Practicing: This is more subtle.
  • 练习 (liànxí) means “to practice.” It refers to the act of doing exercises, drills, or repetitions, often on your own. It's a component of training.
  • 训练 (xùnliàn) is the overall, systematic program or regimen that includes various forms of `练习`.
  • Think of it this way: Your coach designs a 训练 (training program). A part of that program is to go home and do your 练习 (practice exercises).
  • Example: `今天的训练 (xùnliàn) 包括跑步和投篮练习 (liànxí)。` - “Today's training includes running and shooting practice.”

• 学习 (xuéxí) - To learn or study. The broad acquisition of knowledge, as opposed to skill-based training.
• 练习 (liànxí) - To practice. The specific act of repetition that is often a part of a larger `训练` plan.
• 培训 (péixùn) - Training, often in a more formal, classroom or corporate setting like a seminar, workshop, or course. Can be seen as a type of `训练`.
• 锻炼 (duànliàn) - To exercise, work out, or temper. Focuses more on physical health and fitness, or toughening one's character, than on a specific performance-based skill.
• 操练 (cāoliàn) - To drill or practice. Carries a very strong military or group exercise connotation. More intense and synchronized than general `训练`.
• 教练 (jiàoliàn) - Coach or instructor. The person who leads the `训练`.
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - To endure hardship. A cultural value deeply associated with the discipline required for effective `训练`.