培训 (péi xùn) means 'to train'—especially in a professional, vocational, or organizational context. It combines 培 (péi), meaning 'to cultivate' or 'to foster', and 训 (xùn), meaning 'to instruct' or 'to discipline'. Together, they convey the idea of systematically developing someone’s skills, knowledge, or behavior through guided learning. Unlike general study (学习) or self-practice, 培训 implies structured instruction, often led by experts or institutions, and is commonly used for workplace onboarding, certification programs, safety drills, or technical upskilling.

This word is frequently used as both a verb ('to train') and a noun ('training'). As a noun, it often appears with measure words like 次 (a session) or 课程 (a course). It carries a formal, institutional tone and is rarely used for casual or personal learning (e.g., teaching a friend to cook). You’ll see it in company announcements, government policy documents, HR communications, and healthcare settings—such as training nurses on new protocols or staff on infection control procedures.