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B1 verb #1,800 most common 8 min read

积累

jilei Top 1,800

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 积累 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 积累 in your Level:

At the A1 level, think of '积累' (jīlěi) as 'getting more of something.' Even though it's a bit advanced for beginners, you can understand it as 'making a big pile.' For example, if you have one book today and two books tomorrow, you are 'accumulating' books. In simple Chinese, we often say 'many' (很多) or 'save' (存), but '积累' is the special word for when those things help you grow. Imagine a child saving coins in a jar; that is a simple form of 积累. At this stage, just remember it means 'to get more and more over time.'

For A2 learners, '积累' (jīlěi) starts to appear in the context of learning. You might hear your teacher say you need to '积累词汇' (accumulate vocabulary). This means you shouldn't just learn a word and forget it; you should keep adding new words to your memory every day. It's like building a house with bricks—each word is a brick. You can also use it for '积累经验' (accumulating experience) if you have a part-time job. It's a more formal way to say 'getting more experience' than just saying '有了经验'.

At the B1 level, you should use '积累' (jīlěi) as a standard verb for professional and personal development. It is no longer just about physical things; it's about abstract growth. You should know common collocations like '积累财富' (accumulate wealth) and '积累知识' (accumulate knowledge). You also start to see it used as a noun, such as '长期的积累' (long-term accumulation). This level requires you to understand that 积累 implies a slow, steady process. It's the opposite of 'sudden' or 'instant.' It's about the effort you put in every day.

B2 learners should be able to distinguish '积累' (jīlěi) from similar words like '堆积' (piling up) or '积攒' (saving up). You should use 积累 in formal writing and discussions about social issues or economics. For example, '资本积累' (capital accumulation) is a key term in business. You should also understand its role in Chinese culture, where '积累' is seen as a virtue. You might use it in sentences like '成功不是偶然的，而是多年积累的结果' (Success is not accidental, but the result of years of accumulation).

At the C1 level, '积累' (jīlěi) is used in sophisticated ways to describe complex systems. You might talk about '文化积累' (cultural accumulation) or '历史积累' (historical accumulation) when discussing the development of a civilization. You should be comfortable using it in the passive voice or within complex grammatical structures. You can also use it metaphorically, such as '积累正能量' (accumulating positive energy) or '积累人脉' (accumulating social connections/networking). At this level, you understand the philosophical nuance that accumulation leads to a 'qualitative leap' (质的飞跃).

For C2 speakers, '积累' (jīlěi) is a versatile tool for abstract reasoning. You might use it in academic papers to discuss 'knowledge accumulation models' or in literature to describe the 'accumulation of emotions' in a character's development. You understand its etymological roots and can use it to explain traditional Chinese concepts like '厚积薄发' (accumulate richly and break through thinly/slowly). You can use it to critique societal trends, such as the 'accumulation of systemic risks' in a financial market. It is a word that signifies deep mastery of both the language and the underlying logic of growth.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

积累 in 30 Seconds

积累 (jīlěi) means to gradually collect or increase something valuable like experience or knowledge over time.
It is used as both a verb (to accumulate) and a noun (accumulation) in formal and professional contexts.
Common collocations include 积累经验 (experience), 积累财富 (wealth), and 积累知识 (knowledge).
It differs from 堆积 (messy piling) and 积攒 (frugal saving) by focusing on growth and value.

The term 积累 (jīlěi) is a fundamental Chinese verb that describes the process of gradual accretion. At its core, it refers to the act of gathering, collecting, or piling up resources, whether they are tangible like money or intangible like experience and knowledge. The character 积 (jī) historically relates to the piling of grain after a harvest, suggesting a sense of abundance and preparation for the future. The character 累 (lěi) implies a repetitive or continuous action, often building one layer upon another. Together, they form a concept that is deeply rooted in the Chinese value system of persistence and long-term growth.

Core Concept: The steady, incremental increase of a resource over time through consistent effort or natural progression.

他在工作中积累了大量的实战经验。(He has accumulated a vast amount of practical experience in his work.)

In a philosophical sense, 积累 is the antidote to the desire for 'instant success.' It emphasizes that greatness is built from small, seemingly insignificant actions that compound over time. This aligns with the Chinese proverb 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' but 积累 focuses specifically on the *baggage* or *wealth* you carry forward from those steps. Whether you are a student learning characters or an entrepreneur building a brand, you are in a constant state of 积累.

Etymology: 积 (jī) means to amass or store up, while 累 (lěi) means to accumulate or heap. The combination emphasizes the volume and the process.

财富的积累需要时间和耐心。(The accumulation of wealth requires time and patience.)

Furthermore, 积累 is often used in academic and professional contexts to describe the 'foundation' (基础) one builds. Without the 积累 of basic skills, one cannot reach advanced levels of proficiency. It is a word that carries a positive connotation of diligence and foresight. In modern Mandarin, it is almost always used for things that are beneficial to the subject, such as 经验 (experience), 知识 (knowledge), 财富 (wealth), or 力量 (strength).

Usage Context: Commonly used in formal writing, business reports, and educational advice to highlight the importance of long-term effort.

学习语言是一个不断积累词汇的过程。(Learning a language is a process of constantly accumulating vocabulary.)

我们要学会积累生活中的点滴感悟。(We should learn to accumulate small insights from daily life.)

厚积薄发：通过长期的积累而得到充分的发展。(To break through after long-term accumulation.)

Using 积累 (jīlěi) correctly requires understanding its role as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it is typically followed by an abstract noun representing something valuable. You don't usually 'accumulate' trash (that would be 堆积); you 'accumulate' things that contribute to your growth or status. The grammatical structure is usually [Subject] + [积累] + [Object].

Verb Form: Example: 积累经验 (Accumulate experience). This is the most common usage.

他通过兼职工作积累了社会经验。(He accumulated social experience through part-time jobs.)

As a noun, 积累 refers to the total amount accumulated or the act of accumulation itself. For example, 'capital accumulation' is 资本积累. In this sense, it is often found in economic or academic discussions. It can also be modified by adjectives like 'long-term' (长期的) or 'rich' (丰富的).

Noun Form: Example: 这种成功源于多年的积累。(This success stems from years of accumulation.)

深厚的文化积累使他的作品非常动人。(Deep cultural accumulation makes his work very moving.)

It is important to distinguish 积累 from 积攒 (jīzǎn). While both mean to save or accumulate, 积攒 is more often used for small amounts of physical money or specific items, often with a sense of frugality. 积累 is broader and more formal, covering abstract concepts like 'wisdom' or 'reputation.' You wouldn't say '积累 stamps' (use 收集) or '积累 coins' (use 积攒).

Collocation Patterns: 积累 + 知识 (knowledge), 财富 (wealth), 经验 (experience), 资料 (data/materials), 能量 (energy).

科学家们正在积累实验数据。(Scientists are accumulating experimental data.)

每天阅读半小时，可以帮助你积累词汇。(Reading for half an hour every day can help you accumulate vocabulary.)

他在这个行业里已经积累了很高的人气。(He has already accumulated high popularity in this industry.)

You will encounter 积累 (jīlěi) in a variety of professional and academic settings. In the corporate world, it is a buzzword used during performance reviews and career planning. Managers often tell employees to 'accumulate experience' before seeking a promotion. In financial news, you will hear it in discussions about 'capital accumulation' (资本积累) or 'wealth management.'

Workplace Context: Used to discuss professional growth and the building of a resume.

年轻时应该多去基层积累经验。(When young, one should go to the grassroots level to accumulate experience.)

In educational settings, teachers frequently use 积累 to encourage students to read more and take notes. It is seen as the foundation of writing skills. A common phrase is '积累好词好句' (accumulating good words and sentences), which refers to the practice of keeping a notebook of beautiful language to use in future essays.

Academic Context: Focuses on the gathering of knowledge, vocabulary, and research data.

写作能力的提高需要长期的积累。(The improvement of writing ability requires long-term accumulation.)

In social media and self-help circles, 积累 is used to discuss 'personal branding' and 'influence.' Influencers talk about how they 'accumulated followers' (积累粉丝) over years of content creation. It is a word that validates the hard work behind visible success.

Social Media Context: Refers to building an audience or a reputation online.

他通过优质的内容积累了百万粉丝。(He accumulated a million followers through high-quality content.)

信誉的积累往往需要一辈子的时间。(The accumulation of credibility often takes a lifetime.)

这次失败让我们积累了宝贵的教训。(This failure allowed us to accumulate valuable lessons.)

While 积累 (jīlěi) is a versatile word, learners often confuse it with other terms related to gathering or saving. The most common mistake is using 积累 for physical objects that are just piled up without any sense of value or growth. For instance, you wouldn't say '积累垃圾' (accumulate trash); the correct word would be 堆积 (duījī), which implies a messy or disorganized pile.

Mistake 1: Physical Piling: Using 积累 for negative or neutral physical objects like dust or trash. Use 堆积 instead.

Incorrect: 角落里积累了很多灰尘。 Correct: 角落里堆积了很多灰尘。(Dust has piled up in the corner.)

Another mistake is confusing 积累 with 收集 (shōují). 收集 means to collect items, often as a hobby or for a specific purpose (like collecting stamps or data). 积累 implies a process where the collected items *add up* to create a larger whole or a higher level of quality. You 'collect' (收集) data points to 'accumulate' (积累) evidence.

Mistake 2: Hobby vs. Growth: Using 积累 for hobbies like collecting coins. Use 收集 for the act of gathering individual items.

Incorrect: 我喜欢积累邮票。 Correct: 我喜欢收集邮票。(I like collecting stamps.)

Lastly, some learners use 积累 in place of 积攒 (jīzǎn). While they are close, 积攒 is more colloquial and specifically refers to saving up small amounts of money or resources for a specific goal. 积累 is more formal and abstract. If you are saving money for a bike, use 积攒. If you are talking about national wealth accumulation, use 积累.

Mistake 3: Formal vs. Informal Saving: Using 积累 for saving small change. Use 积攒 for frugal saving.

他积攒了半年的零花钱买了一部手机。(He saved up his pocket money for half a year to buy a phone.)

不要混淆积累和简单的重复。(Don't confuse accumulation with simple repetition.)

这里的积累是指质的变化。(Accumulation here refers to a qualitative change.)

Understanding the nuances between 积累 (jīlěi) and its synonyms is key to advanced fluency. While they all involve 'gathering,' their connotations and typical objects differ significantly.

积累 vs. 堆积 (duījī): 积累 is for valuable, abstract things (experience, wealth). 堆积 is for physical, often unwanted things (trash, snow, work tasks).

积累经验 (Accumulate experience) vs. 堆积如山的工作 (Work piled up like a mountain).

Another close relative is 积攒 (jīzǎn). This word is much more focused on the act of saving bit by bit, often with a sense of effort and frugality. It is almost always used for money or small physical resources.

积累 vs. 积攒 (jīzǎn): 积累 is formal and broad. 积攒 is informal and implies saving small amounts through thrift.

积累财富 (Accumulate wealth - macro) vs. 积攒零钱 (Save up small change - micro).

Then there is 储备 (chǔbèi), which means 'to reserve' or 'to store up' for future use, often in an emergency or for a specific strategic purpose. You 'accumulate' (积累) knowledge generally, but you 'reserve' (储备) grain or talent for a crisis.

积累 vs. 储备 (chǔbèi): 积累 is the process of growth. 储备 is the act of setting aside for future needs.

积累知识 (Accumulate knowledge) vs. 储备粮食 (Store up grain reserves).

我们要积累正能量。(We need to accumulate positive energy.)

通过积累，量变会引起质变。(Through accumulation, quantitative change leads to qualitative change.)

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Resultative complements

Aspect marker 了

Noun-forming suffixes

Adverbial modifiers

Passive voice with 被

Examples by Level

我要积累很多钱。

I want to accumulate a lot of money.

Subject + 积累 + Object

他在积累好词。

He is accumulating good words.

积累 + Abstract Noun

多积累，多学习。

Accumulate more, learn more.

Imperative use

每天积累一点点。

Accumulate a little bit every day.

Adverbial '每天' + Verb

积累是很重要的。

Accumulation is very important.

Used as a noun/subject

他在积累经验。

He is gathering experience.

Common collocation

积累知识很有用。

Accumulating knowledge is very useful.

Gerund-like usage

我们要积累力量。

We need to accumulate strength.

Modal verb '要' + 积累

学习汉语需要积累词汇。

Learning Chinese requires accumulating vocabulary.

Verb + Object

他在工作中积累了经验。

He accumulated experience at work.

Use of '了' for completed action

我们要学会积累财富。

We must learn to accumulate wealth.

学会 + Verb + Object

积累是成功的关键。

Accumulation is the key to success.

Noun usage

他在积累写信的素材。

He is accumulating material for writing letters.

积累 + Noun phrase

通过积累，你会变强。

Through accumulation, you will become stronger.

Prepositional phrase '通过...'

不要忘记积累小知识。

Don't forget to accumulate small bits of knowledge.

Negative imperative

他积累了不少好书。

He has accumulated quite a few good books.

积累 + 数量词 (not quite 'collecting' but 'amassing')

深厚的积累让他脱颖而出。

Deep accumulation made him stand out.

Adjective + Noun usage

我们需要不断积累实战经验。

We need to constantly accumulate practical experience.

不断 + 积累

财富的积累是一个漫长的过程。

The accumulation of wealth is a long process.

Possessive '的' structure

他在大学期间积累了人脉。

He accumulated social connections during university.

Time phrase + 积累

这种病是长期积累的结果。

This illness is the result of long-term accumulation.

Negative context usage

我们要积累正能量，面对困难。

We should accumulate positive energy to face difficulties.

Metaphorical usage

他积累了大量的原始数据。

He accumulated a large amount of raw data.

积累 + 数量词 + Object

写作需要素材的积累。

Writing requires the accumulation of materials.

Noun phrase as object

原始资本的积累往往是残酷的。

The accumulation of original capital is often cruel.

Economic terminology

他多年的积累终于得到了回报。

His years of accumulation finally paid off.

Subject as a noun phrase

我们要重视基础知识的积累。

We should attach importance to the accumulation of basic knowledge.

重视 + Noun phrase

这种文化积累是民族的财富。

This cultural accumulation is the wealth of the nation.

Abstract noun usage

他在艺术领域有很深的积累。

He has a deep accumulation in the field of art.

In a specific field

通过积累，他掌握了这项技术。

Through accumulation, he mastered this technology.

Cause and effect

积累经验比赚快钱更重要。

Accumulating experience is more important than making quick money.

Comparison structure

他积累了丰富的教学经验。

He has accumulated rich teaching experience.

Rich (丰富) + 积累

厚积薄发是成功的必经之路。

Accumulating richly and breaking through slowly is the only way to success.

Idiomatic usage

历史的积累塑造了今天的城市。

The accumulation of history has shaped today's cities.

Abstract subject

这种文学积累体现了时代的变迁。

This literary accumulation reflects the changes of the times.

Reflective usage

他在学术研究上有深厚的积累。

He has a profound accumulation in academic research.

Academic context

资本的过度积累可能导致危机。

Excessive accumulation of capital may lead to a crisis.

Economic critique

我们要学会从失败中积累教训。

We must learn to accumulate lessons from failure.

Learning from mistakes

这种情感的积累在结尾爆发了。

This accumulation of emotion exploded at the end.

Literary analysis

他积累了广泛的社会影响力。

He has accumulated broad social influence.

Social context

知识的积累并非线性的增长。

The accumulation of knowledge is not a linear growth.

Philosophical statement

这种制度性的积累具有路径依赖性。

This institutional accumulation has path dependency.

Sociological terminology

他通过对古典文学的长期积累，形成了独特的风格。

Through long-term accumulation of classical literature, he formed a unique style.

Complex sentence structure

文明的积累是一个漫长而脆弱的过程。

The accumulation of civilization is a long and fragile process.

Existential context

这种技术积累为产业升级奠定了基础。

This technical accumulation laid the foundation for industrial upgrading.

Macro-economic context

他在哲学思考上的积累达到了新的高度。

His accumulation in philosophical thinking has reached new heights.

Metaphorical height

我们要警惕负面情绪的长期积累。

We must be wary of the long-term accumulation of negative emotions.

Psychological warning

这种美学积累源于对自然的深刻观察。

This aesthetic accumulation stems from profound observation of nature.

Artistic analysis

Synonyms

积攒积聚堆积储备

Antonyms

消耗挥霍

Common Collocations

积累经验

积累财富

积累知识

积累素材

积累人脉

积累资金

积累力量

积累资料

积累好感

积累教训

Common Phrases

长期积累

原始积累

资本积累

不断积累

点滴积累

厚积薄发

积累过程

积累成果

经验积累

知识积累

Often Confused With

积累 vs 堆积

积累 vs 收集

积累 vs 积攒

Idioms & Expressions

"厚积薄发"

"日积月累"

"积少成多"

"聚沙成塔"

"集腋成裘"

"积土成山"

"积水成渊"

"积善成德"

"积劳成疾"

"积重难返"

Easily Confused

积累 vs

Sentence Patterns

Word Family

积极

体积

乘积

积压

积木

How to Use It

nuance

Positive connotation, abstract focus.

Common Mistakes

Tips

Vocabulary Notebook

Keep a notebook to 积累 good sentences from your reading.

Experience

Focus on 积累 skills that are transferable between jobs.

Wealth

Small monthly savings lead to significant 积累 over decades.

Patience

Remember that 积累 takes time; don't rush the process.

Formal Tone

Use 积累 instead of '有' to sound more professional in essays.

Collocations

Memorize 积累经验 as a single unit to sound more natural.

Context

If you hear 'jīlěi,' expect to hear about something growing or building up.

Aspect

Use '积累了' when talking about your current qualifications.

Philosophy

Understand that 积累 is linked to the idea of 'Kung Fu' (effort over time).

Goal

Identify what you want to 积累 this year and track it.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Ji (积) sounds like 'G' (gather), Lei (累) sounds like 'Lay' (layer). Gather and Lay layers.

Word Origin

积 (grain pile) + 累 (heap/repeated).

Cultural Context

Accumulation is seen as a sign of a disciplined and far-sighted person.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"你在工作中积累了哪些经验？"

"如何积累财富？"

"你觉得积累知识重要吗？"

"你有什么积累词汇的好方法？"

"积累人脉对创业有帮助吗？"

Journal Prompts

写一写你过去一年积累了什么。

如果你可以积累一种超能力，那是什么？

谈谈你对'厚积薄发'的理解。

记录你今天积累的一个新知识。

你认为积累财富最难的地方在哪里？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, use 堆积 for trash or messy piles.

Usually, yes. For negative things like 'debts' or 'resentment,' words like 积欠 or 积怨 are used.

They are very similar, but 积累 is more common for abstract growth, while 累积 is often used for mathematical or statistical totals.

Yes, it can mean 'accumulation' as in 'capital accumulation' (资本积累).

积累经验 (jīlěi jīngyàn).

Yes, it is more formal than '攒' or '存'.

No, you don't accumulate people, but you can accumulate 'followers' (粉丝) or 'connections' (人脉).

It means to accumulate a lot of knowledge/strength and then use it effectively when the time is right.

It is 1st tone (jī).

Not usually. You 'spend' or 'save' time, but you don't 'accumulate' it like a resource.

Test Yourself 69 questions

writing

Write a sentence about your work experience using 积累.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Check for correct use of 了 and 经验.