life experience
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life experience
The totality of the knowledge, insights, and personal maturity that a person gathers over the course of their life through various experiences, challenges, and observations.
Mit ihrer großen Lebenserfahrung konnte sie der jungen Frau gute Ratschläge geben.
With her great life experience, she was able to give the young woman good advice.
The word is made up of 'das Leben' (life), the linking -s, and 'die Erfahrung' (experience). So it literally describes the experiences one gathers in life.
Seine Lebenserfahrung macht ihn zu einem guten Ratgeber.
His life experience makes him a good adviser.
'Lebenserfahrung' (life experience) is an uncountable noun and is almost always used in the singular. It describes the totality of experiences, not individual events.
Man kann nicht alles lernen, für manche Dinge braucht man Lebenserfahrung.
You can't learn everything; for some things you need life experience.
Common combinations are 'Lebenserfahrung sammeln' (to gain life experience), '(viel/wenig) Lebenserfahrung haben' (to have a lot/little life experience), or 'von jemandes Lebenserfahrung profitieren' (to benefit from someone's life experience).
Junge Menschen haben oft noch nicht so viel Lebenserfahrung gesammelt.
Young people often have not yet gained that much life experience.
experience
Erfahrung can refer to knowledge and skills in a particular area. Lebenserfahrung, by contrast, means the insights gathered over the course of one’s life and the personal maturity that develops from them. Use Erfahrung for a limited area and Lebenserfahrung for a comprehensive view of life.
Durch ihre Lebenserfahrung beurteilt sie schwierige Entscheidungen meist ruhig und besonnen.
Because of her life experience, she usually evaluates difficult decisions calmly and thoughtfully.
Durch seine Berufserfahrung kennt er sich mit schwierigen Verhandlungen gut aus.
Because of his professional experience, he is very familiar with difficult negotiations.
