How to say "linguistics" in Japanese

• 言語学げんごがく
  nounThe word for linguistics as an academic discipline: the study of language itself — its structure, sounds, and meaning. Less common than 語学 overall, but the word you want for the field of study.
  この本ほんは言語学げんごがくの新あたらしい理論りろんを扱あつかっている。↗

  This book deals with the new theory of linguistics.
• 語学ごがくJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThough also glossed linguistics, this common word really means language study — learning a foreign language. It is seldom the word you want for linguistics as an academic discipline; for that, use 言語学.

Choose 言語学 for linguistics as an academic discipline, the scientific study of language; 語学, though also rendered linguistics, typically means language study — learning a foreign language — rather than the discipline itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 言語学げんごがくlinguistics
• 語学ごがくlinguistics