How to say "learning" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 学がくnounCovers learning in the sense of scholarship and erudition. It is chiefly a written, formal word for academic learning as a body of knowledge, as in calls to value 学 itself rather than credentials.
- 学習がくしゅうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe usual word for learning as an ongoing activity of study, whether self-directed or guided. It covers learning facts, languages, or skills through systematic study, and is neutral across contexts.
- 学びまなびnounA noun from the verb 学ぶ, with a somewhat personal, reflective nuance. It often appears in educational or inspirational writing about what one gains from learning and experience.
- 習得しゅうとくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbLearning in the sense of acquisition: coming to possess a skill, knowledge, or ability. Use it when emphasizing that something has been mastered or attained, not the studying process itself.
- nounA loanword whose use largely overlaps with 学習. It appears mostly in fixed marketing, business, or e-learning expressions, so it is seldom the word you want in ordinary sentences.
Use 学習 for learning as an activity, 習得 for acquiring a skill or knowledge, 「学び」 for learning in a reflective or broad sense, 学 for scholarship, and 「ラーニング」 mainly in loanword contexts.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 学がくlearning
- 学習がくしゅうlearning
- 学びまなびlearning
- 習得しゅうとくlearning
- ラーニングlearning
- 修学しゅうがくlearning
- 修道しゅうどうlearning
- 学問がくもんstudy
- 学術がくじゅつscience
- 修業しゅうぎょうpursuit of knowledge
- 学修がくしゅうstudy
- 伝習でんしゅうundergoing training
- 学習用がくしゅうようstudy (e.g. material)
- 学殖がくしょくscholarship
- 拝承はいしょうhearing
- 文ふみliterary arts
- 手習いてならいstudy
- 覚知かくちacknowledgement (of a fire, incident, etc. by emergency services)
See also
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