Jensen Huang at Caltech: Be Willing to Pivot
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EN: The word 'that' introduces a noun clause acting as the direct object of the verb 'warns'. This clause contains the entire message or warning being conveyed.
The teacher warns that the exam will be difficult.
EN: The word 'even' is used as an intensive adverb to emphasize that something is surprising or extreme, in this case, applying the rule to even the 'smartest' or 'best' things.
Even the best players make mistakes sometimes.
EN: Jensen Huang is the co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA. This sentence reflects his business philosophy of 'intellectual humility' and 'agility'—the idea that no matter how good a plan is, one must be ready to adapt to the unpredictable nature of the market.
EN: The phrase 'regardless of' is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is not affected or influenced by the factors mentioned. It is often followed by a noun phrase or a wh-clause (like 'how well...').
The event will go ahead regardless of the weather.
EN: The structure 'how + adverb + subject + verb' is used within a noun clause to express degree. In this sentence, 'how well' modifies the manner in which the student prepares.
I was surprised by how quickly he finished the task.
EN: This sentence reflects a core philosophy often shared by tech leaders like Jensen Huang: the acceptance of failure and the necessity of adaptability. In high-stakes environments like Silicon Valley, 'planning' is seen as less important than 'pivoting' or responding to real-world feedback.
EN: The 'not A, but B' structure is a correlative conjunction used to contrast two elements, emphasizing that the second part (B) is the correct or more important one.
Success is not about luck, but about hard work.
EN: A Nominal Clause (Noun Clause) starting with 'What' acts as the subject of the sentence. Here, 'What separates...' functions as a single noun unit.
What he said surprised everyone.
EN: In the modern tech industry, 'pivot' is a common buzzword. It refers to a company fundamentally changing its business direction after realizing its current product or strategy is not meeting market needs. This concept is central to the 'Lean Startup' methodology.
EN: The relative clause starting with 'that' (that are no longer working) acts as an adjective to modify the noun 'original ideas'. It provides essential information about which ideas are being let go.
The company avoids strategies that are too risky.
EN: The phrase 'no longer' is an adverbial phrase used to indicate that a situation that existed in the past has stopped and does not exist now.
He no longer works for NVIDIA.
EN: This sentence reflects a core value in Silicon Valley culture: 'pivoting'. It emphasizes that being 'right' initially is less important than being 'agile' and responding to market feedback, a philosophy championed by leaders like Jensen.
EN: The sentence uses a sequence of past tense verbs ('started', 'moved', 'embraced') to describe the chronological evolution of a company. This is a common way to narrate history or progress.
The team researched the market, developed a prototype, and finally launched the app.
EN: The phrasal verb 'move into' means to start being involved in a new area of business or activity.
The tech giant decided to move into the renewable energy sector.
EN: This sentence reflects NVIDIA's real-world history, transitioning from a gaming-focused hardware company to the backbone of the global AI revolution. It highlights the importance of 'pivoting' in the tech industry.
EN: The phrase 'what it used to be' uses a noun clause starting with 'what' to describe a past state or identity that no longer exists. 'Used to' indicates a habitual action or state in the past.
The city is very different from what it used to be.
EN: The 'to + verb' (infinitive) at the end of the sentence functions as an adverbial of purpose, explaining 'why' the action of letting go was necessary.
He studied hard to pass the exam.
EN: This sentence reflects Jensen Huang's leadership philosophy at NVIDIA, emphasizing 'intellectual honesty'—the ability to admit when a strategy is no longer working and pivot quickly, even if it means abandoning a successful past.
EN: The conjunction 'While' is used here to introduce a contrast between two clauses, similar to 'although' or 'even though'. It sets up a comparison between the academic environment and the real world.
While she loves her job, she finds the commute exhausting.
EN: The passive voice 'were rewarded' (be + past participle) is used to show that the subject (graduates) received something from an external source (the school system) rather than performing the action themselves.
The employees were rewarded for their hard work with a bonus.
EN: This sentence reflects a common theme in commencement speeches by tech leaders like Jensen: the transition from the structured, 'right-or-wrong' academic world to the messy, iterative nature of innovation where failure is a prerequisite for success.
EN: The gerund 'starting' functions as a subject complement here, following the linking verb 'is' to define what 'the skill' consists of.
His passion is teaching others how to code.
EN: The conjunction 'until' introduces a subordinate clause of time, indicating that the action of starting over continues up to the point when the solution is reached.
We waited in the rain until the bus arrived.
EN: In modern entrepreneurial culture, particularly in Silicon Valley, 'failing fast' and 'pivoting' without shame is seen as a strength rather than a weakness. Jensen's advice reflects this mindset of resilience over perfectionism.
EN: The phrase 'had better' is used to give strong advice or warnings about what someone should do in a specific situation. It is followed by the base form of the verb without 'to'.
You had better leave now if you want to catch the last train.
EN: The word 'that' introduces a noun clause acting as a subject complement. It renames or explains the subject 'His final advice'.
The truth is that we need more time to finish the project.
EN: This sentence reflects the fast-paced nature of the tech industry, particularly in Silicon Valley where NVIDIA is based. Jensen Huang's advice emphasizes 'running' as a metaphor for proactive adaptation and urgency in a competitive global market.
EN: The modal idiom 'had better' is used to give strong advice or warnings about what someone should do to avoid negative consequences. It is usually followed by a bare infinitive (verb without 'to').
You had better finish your homework before the teacher arrives.
EN: The conjunction 'as' is used here to indicate 'while' or 'at the same time as', showing two actions happening simultaneously.
She sang a song as she walked down the street.
EN: This sentence reflects a common theme in modern Silicon Valley culture, championed by leaders like Jensen (NVIDIA's CEO): the idea that growth and innovation require embracing discomfort and constant change rather than avoiding it.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To fail or experience problems.
To stop holding onto something, either physically or mentally.
A branch of AI focused on building systems that learn from data.
To begin again from the very beginning.
Used to give strong advice or a warning.