历经…
having gone through; after (a long time or many trials)
Structure
历经 时间／风雨／磨难 ， 主语 终于／才 … ； 主语 历经 时间／风雨
What it means
A written verb: to go through a long time or many hardships, usually before something is finally achieved or still survives.
How it is built
历经 + span or trials (二十多年, 八百年风雨, 三次失败, 千辛万苦), then 终于/才: 历经三次失败，团队终于成功了 (After three failures the team finally succeeded).
When to use it
Formal writing and news. It often opens the sentence and usually takes no 了. For everyday “experience”, as a verb or a noun, use 经历.
Watch out
Unlike 经历, it is never a noun and does not take a single event. ✗他的历经 ✗我历经了一件怪事 ✓他的经历 ✓我经历了一件怪事。
Examples
历经二十多年的寻找，他终于找到了儿子。
After more than twenty years of searching, he finally found his son.
这座古桥历经八百年风雨，至今仍在使用。
This old bridge has weathered eight hundred years and is still in use.
历经三次失败，研究团队终于把卫星送上了轨道。
After three failures, the research team finally put the satellite into orbit.
Learn this in Lesson 153 · HSK 7–9: 宝贝回家 (Bringing the children home)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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