In order to express the meaning of indicating something, there are two words for the Chinese languagelearners to choose, 体现and表现. However, when you attend to summer program in China, you may be told that the former one is used to say a certain nature or phenomenon is expressed specifically by certain thing like 这幅画体现了画家对大自然的热爱.

Usually speaking, 体现is to indicate through language, action, development and change to express people’s spirit o the nature of things. The point that the foreign students should know when they study in China is that it is not used for person directly but only things. However, 变现can function as both verb and noun.

As a verb, 表现means to express something out like 这些话表现了他的无知, or show off the advantages with intention like 他常在女孩面前表现. Students who are in a school to study Mandarin need to know the expression, spirit or nature is directly expressed and it can be applied for things or person. When it is functioned as a noun, it means certain behavior expressed.

体验and体会is another group of words for the students to learn if they come for Chinese learning programs. Since 体验is to experience something personally and know things through the practice, the objects are usually 生活and现实. For example, you can make sentence like 体验不对生活and体验社会大家庭的温暖.

However, 体会has the functions of both noun and verb. Except for experiencing, 体会also carries the implication of realizing something. If you pay enough attention when you study Chinese, you may find that the objects are usually document, policy, principle, instruction and decision. For instance, 他体会到外语的重要性.

If it is used as a noun, it is the contents of what have been experienced and realized. But the contents are often abstract like 我工作后有了很多体会. After understanding the differences, the students can use them correctly when they are learning Mandarin Chinese. But it is also important to practice more in actual sentences.