学 (xué) — to learn, to study; to imitate

学 (xué) is the everyday 'to learn/study' verb — usable on its own or in compounds. Pick it over 学习 when the object is short (学中文); 学习 emphasizes the ongoing process.

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.