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学习 (xué xí) — to learn; to study

Definition

学习 is the everyday verb 'to study / to learn' — broader than 学, which can also mean 'to imitate'. Use 学 in set phrases like 上学; use 学习 for subjects or skills.

verb
to learnto study

Examples

  • 学习。
    Wǒ zài xué xiào xué xí.
    I study at school.
  • 学习。
    Wǒ men xué xí zhōng wén.
    We study Chinese.
  • 学习。
    Tā xǐ huan xué xí.
    He likes to study.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

学xuéstudy
习xípractice

学 (study) and 习 (practice) together mean to learn.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 習; 习 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 習 pairs 羽 (wings) with 日 (sun), showing a bird learning to fly; the simplified 习 is a later shorthand.

Open 习 →
Appears in
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