Meaning
内行 refers to someone who is an expert or insider in a particular field or profession. It describes a person with deep knowledge, skill, and experience in a specific area. The term literally combines '内' (inside) and '行' (profession/trade), suggesting someone who is 'inside' the profession and truly understands it.
Usage
Commonly used to compliment someone's expertise or to distinguish between professionals and amateurs. Often appears in the phrase '外行看热闹，内行看门道' (outsiders watch for excitement, insiders see the real techniques). Can function as both a noun (an expert) and an adjective (expert, skilled). Generally used in neutral to positive contexts.
Examples
- 01一听他说话就知道他是内行。.You can tell he's an expert just by hearing him talk.
- 02这件事还是要请内行人来帮忙。.For this matter, we still need to ask an expert to help.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个内行
- 位一位内行
Common collocations
- 内行人expert, insider
- 很内行very knowledgeable/expert
- 外行看热闹，内行看门道,laymen watch the excitement, experts see the techniques
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines '内' (inside) with '行' (profession/trade). The concept reflects the idea that true experts are 'insiders' who understand the inner workings and subtleties of their field that outsiders cannot see.