Learn 本事 vs 本领 vs 技能 and other words that mean skills in Chinese (China, Simplified). Build fluency with personalized exercises, chats, and video recommen...
All of these can translate to “skill/ability,” but they differ in tone, formality, and what kind of “skill” you mean:
技能 = skill (fairly formal/neutral). Often for learnable, practical skills, including job/technical skills: 职业技能, 技能培训, 操作技能.本领 = ability/capability (more “you’re capable at doing things,” often praising someone’s real competence). Common in speech and writing: 他很有本领, 真本领.本事 = ability, but very context-dependent:
他有本事把事情办成你有本事就来, 有本事别走没本事 (not capable).Other common “skill/ability” words you’ll see:
能力 = general ability/capacity (very common; broader than a specific skill): 沟通能力, 学习能力, 工作能力.才华 = talent (esp. artistic/creative or intellectual talent): 有才华.天赋 = innate gift (natural, inborn): 语言天赋.特长 = strong point / specialty (what you’re especially good at): 你的特长是什么？手艺 = craft/manual trade skill (often hands-on, traditional): 学手艺, 好手艺.技巧 = technique/tips (methods for doing something well): 写作技巧, 谈判技巧.功夫 = skill built through hard practice (also “kung fu”); often implies time/effort: 下功夫, 基本功, 真功夫.绝活 = “special stunt/unique skill” (showy, distinctive): 拿手绝活.拿手 = something you’re good at (as an adjective): 这是我拿手的.Related Topics: 能力, 技巧 vs 技能, Compliments and praise, Job and workplace Chinese