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百戦錬磨 (ひゃくせんれんま) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
veteran ; battle-hardened ; rich in experience
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
A yojijukugo describing someone who has been tempered by many struggles or hardships, not limited to literal battles. Often used for seasoned professionals or people with extensive life experience.
百ひゃく 戦せん 錬れん 磨ま の 経けい 験けん を 活い かし て 、 新しん 入にゅう 社しゃ 員いん を 指し 導どう する 。
Drawing on his wealth of experience, he mentors the new employees.
Written forms 百ひゃく 戦せん 錬れん 磨ま
Standard kanji form; 錬磨 is the more common spelling for 'polishing' or 'training' in this compound.
百ひゃく 戦せん 練れん 磨ま
Variant spelling using 練磨; less common but still encountered.
Kanji 錬 tempering, refine, drill Similar words 百ひゃく 戦せん 百ひゃく 勝しょう Means 'ever-victorious' or 'winning every battle', focusing on success rather than the tempering process of experience.
老ろう 練れん Means 'experienced' or 'veteran' but without the battle metaphor; more neutral and often used for skill acquired through long practice.
Etymology A yojijukugo composed of 百 (hundred/many), 戦 (battle), and 錬磨 (polishing/training). The literal meaning is 'polished through a hundred battles', metaphorically referring to someone seasoned by extensive experience.
