学艺 (xué yì) — (noun) knowledge and skill acquired through learning; the art and science of a trade

Definition

学艺 (xué yì) refers to learning a traditional craft or trade (e.g., cooking, martial arts, calligraphy), not academic study — focus is on hands-on skill mastery from a master.

noun
knowledge and skill acquired through learningthe art and science of a trade

Examples

  • 学艺，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù zuān yán xué yì, xiàn zài yǐ jīng chéng le dà shī.
    He has studied the craft since childhood and is now a master.
  • 学艺。
    Zhè mén xué yì xū yào duō nián de liàn xí cái néng zhǎng wò.
    This skill requires years of practice to master.
  • 学艺。
    Tā bǎ zì jǐ de yì shēn xué yì chuán shòu gěi le tú dì.
    He passed on all his skills to his apprentice.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

学xuélearning
艺yìskill

学 and 艺 stand side by side, naming knowledge and skill.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.

Open 学 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
乙
乙yǐ艺yì
Same sound today

In 艺, the top 艹 points to plants, and the lower 乙 gives the sound.

Open 艺 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.