教わる

• Reading: おそわる
• Romaji: osowaru
• Kanji breakdown: 教 (oso/kyou) — teach, instruct
• Pronunciation: /o.so.wa.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be taught; to learn from someone. Receiving instruction or knowledge from another person.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugating with the r-row (教わる → 教わらない → 教わって). The passive-perspective counterpart of 教える (to teach). Emphasises the learner receiving knowledge rather than the teacher giving it. Takes the person you learn from with に particle: 先生に教わる. Distinct from 習う which focuses more on practising a skill.

Examples

1. 祖母に料理を教わった。 I learned how to cook from my grandmother.
2. この技術は先輩から教わりました。 I was taught this technique by a senior colleague.
3. 子供のころ父にピアノを教わった。 When I was a kid, my father taught me piano.

Usage Guide

Context: education, daily life, skills

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

Derived from 教える (oshieru, to teach) with the auxiliary る changing the perspective to the receiver. The kanji 教 shows a child (子) under a hand with a stick (攵), depicting the act of instructing.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal