---
title: "Benling Meaning: 本领 (běnlǐng) Means “skill”"
description: "本领 (traditional 本領, běnlǐng) means “skill; ability”. Hear its tones, see what 本 and 领 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benling"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 本领 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

本领 běnlǐng

## skill; ability

## Its characters

1. 本 běn root
2. 领 lǐng to lead

## In a sentence

他学会了很多生活本领。 He learned a lot of life skills.

我要去找神仙，学长生不老的**本领**！

From [拜师学艺 · A Teacher Across the Sea](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/a-teacher-across-the-sea-journey-to-the-west-easy-chinese-2#library-word-168-170)

[More about 本领](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%AC%E9%A2%86)

## More words with 本 or 领

- [白领 báilǐng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bailing)
- [版本 bǎnběn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/banben)
- [本地 běndì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bendi)
- [本科 běnkē](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benke)
- [本来 běnlái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benlai)
- [本能 běnnéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benneng)
- [本钱 běnqián](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benqian)
- [本人 běnrén](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benren)
- [本色 běnsè](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bense)
- [本身 běnshēn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benshen)

## Keep 本领 for Review

A free account keeps it, and Review brings it back just before you’d forget it.

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