Meanings of 學
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 學
Podcast: 學
Podcast: 學
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 學
学 (xué) vs 习 (xí) — use 学 for formal study or education contexts, while 习 is more about practice or habitual learning.
Be cautious with the tones; 'xué' has a rising tone. It's often used in formal contexts, such as in schools or academic discussions. Common collocations include 學校 (xuéxiào, school) and 學習 (xuéxí, to study/learn), which should be used appropriately to convey the intended meaning.
Though not explicitly listed in HSK levels, 學 is foundational for HSK 1 and 2 as it relates to education and learning—key themes in early language acquisition. Students should focus on recognizing its use in phrases related to school and studying.
Learners often confuse 學 with 學習 (xuéxí), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 學 is more about the act of studying, while 學習 encompasses the broader process of learning. For example, saying '我學中文' (Wǒ xué zhōngwén) is correct, while '我學習中文' (Wǒ xuéxí zhōngwén) is unnecessarily formal in casual conversation.
Pronunciation of 學
Drill the tone of 學 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 學
Simplified form of 學. Originally composed of the numbers five (㐅) and six (六), representing study of arithmetic. Later two hands (又) were added on the left and right side of the character, possibly depicting counting with fingers or hands-on tea
A building 冖 where children 子 study
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 學
Simplified form of 學. Originally composed of the numbers five (㐅) and six (六), representing study of arithmetic. Later two hands (又) were added on the left and right side of the character, possibly depicting counting with fingers or hands-on tea
- 1The giveawayA building 冖 where children 子 study
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 學? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 學?
Decomposition of 學
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 學?
How to say learning, knowledge, science; to study, to go to school; -ology in Chinese
“learning, knowledge, science; to study, to go to school; -ology” in Chinese is學
The character 學 (xué) primarily means 'to study' or 'to learn.' It is commonly used in educational contexts, referring to the acquisition of knowledge or the act of going to school. Additionally, it can denote various fields of study, often seen in compound words that relate to different sciences or disciplines.
When to use 學
Be cautious with the tones; 'xué' has a rising tone. It's often used in formal contexts, such as in schools or academic discussions. Common collocations include 學校 (xuéxiào, school) and 學習 (xuéxí, to study/learn), which should be used appropriately to convey the intended meaning.
學 or something close to it
学 (xué) vs 习 (xí) — use 学 for formal study or education contexts, while 习 is more about practice or habitual learning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 學 with 學習 (xuéxí), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 學 is more about the act of studying, while 學習 encompasses the broader process of learning. For example, saying '我學中文' (Wǒ xué zhōngwén) is correct, while '我學習中文' (Wǒ xuéxí zhōngwén) is unnecessarily formal in casual conversation.
Write 學
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 學 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 學
Compound Meaning
What does 学校 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 學
You can say '我在學中文' (Wǒ zài xué zhōngwén), which means 'I am studying Chinese.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 學?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.