学习

• Pinyin: xué xí
• Hanzi breakdown: 学 = to learn; 习 = 羽 (feather/wing) — a bird practising flight, symbolising repeated practice

Meaning

To study; to learn. A compound verb that emphasises the ongoing, deliberate process of learning, often in an academic or disciplined context.

Slightly more formal and comprehensive than 学 alone. 学习 implies sustained effort and is commonly used in educational, workplace, and motivational contexts. 好好学习 (study hard) is a classic parental encouragement.

Examples

1. 他每天学习三个小时。 He studies for three hours every day.
2. 我喜欢学习新东西。 I enjoy learning new things.
3. 学习中文需要很多时间。 Learning Chinese takes a lot of time.

Usage Guide

Context: education, self-improvement

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 好好学习！(Study hard!)
• 我在学习做饭。(I'm learning to cook.)

Don't Say

• 把'学习'只理解为课堂学习。(Don't limit 学习 to classroom study — it applies to learning skills, work knowledge, and life experience too)

Origin & History

学 (to learn) + 习 (to practise/review). 习 originally depicted a bird practising flight — suggesting that learning requires repeated practice.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal