学艺

• Pinyin: xué yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 学 = 子 + 冖 + 爻 (child learning under a roof); 艺 = 艹 + 云 (plant + cloud — originally depicted a person planting, extended to skill and art)

Meaning

To learn a craft or skill; to study an art form. To apprentice oneself to the study of a particular skill, trade, or artistic discipline.

Traditionally refers to apprenticeship-style learning of traditional arts, crafts, or performing arts such as kung fu, opera, carpentry, or painting. In modern usage can also describe studying any specialised skill. The phrase 学艺不精 (not having mastered one's craft sufficiently) is a common self-deprecating expression.

Examples

1. 他十二岁便跟随父亲拜师学艺，在著名木雕工坊中苦练技艺，如今已成为一位享誉业界的工艺大师。 At twelve, he became an apprentice under his father’s guidance and trained rigorously in a renowned woodcarving workshop; today he is a master craftsman celebrated in the field.
2. 京剧演员自幼学艺，每天清晨练功、午后排练，十年如一日，方能登台演出。 Peking opera performers begin training from a young age, practicing every morning and rehearsing every afternoon; only after a decade of such discipline can they take the stage.
3. 她谦虚地表示自己学艺不精，还有很多不足之处需要向前辈和同行请教学习。 She modestly said her skills were still lacking and that she had much to learn from seniors and peers.

Usage Guide

Context: traditional arts, apprenticeship, performing arts, craftsmanship

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这位非物质文化遗产传承人十五岁开始学艺，历经三十余年的磨砺，终于将这门濒临失传的古老技艺发扬光大。(This inheritor of intangible cultural heritage began studying the craft at fifteen and, after more than thirty years of rigorous practice, ultimately carried forward this ancient art that had been on the verge of being lost.)
• 剧团规定所有新成员必须先跟随资深演员学艺三年，掌握基本功和经典剧目后，方可参与正式公演。(The troupe rules require all new members to first apprentice under senior performers for three years, mastering the basics and classical repertoire before participating in formal public performances.)

Don't Say

• 我去学艺了数学 — 学艺 collocates with traditional crafts, performing arts, or specialised skills with a master-apprentice flavour; for studying an academic subject use 学习数学 or 钻研数学; 学艺了数学 is grammatically awkward and semantically mismatched

Origin & History

学 (to learn/study) + 艺 (art/skill/craft) — to study and master an art or craft

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional/Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal