积累

You usually put a noun after it. Common partners are 经验 (experience), 知识 (knowledge), or 财富 (wealth). You can also use it as a noun itself. For example, you can talk about your 'years of accumulation.' It sounds very positive and hardworking. It shows you have put in the time.

Use it when discussing personal growth or career progress. It is perfect for job interviews. You can tell the boss you have 积累 a lot of experience. Use it when talking to friends about learning Chinese. Tell them you are 积累 new words every day. It works well in any situation where effort meets time.

Do not use it for physical trash or negative things like debt. For a pile of dirty laundry, use 堆. For debt, use 欠. 积累 usually implies something valuable or constructive. Also, do not use it for things that happen instantly. If you buy ten shirts at once, that is not 积累. That is just a shopping spree.

Chinese culture deeply values patience and steady progress. There is a famous saying: 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' 积累 captures this spirit perfectly. It reflects the idea that greatness comes from persistence, not luck. In schools and workplaces, people are often told to 'quietly accumulate.' It is the opposite of showing off.

You might hear 积少成多. This means 'small amounts add up to much.' Another one is 经验积累. This specifically refers to building up your professional 'know-how.' If you want to sound more poetic, you can say 日积月累. This means accumulating day by day and month by month. It sounds very dedicated!