習う

• Reading: ならう
• Romaji: narau
• Kanji breakdown: 習 (shuu/nara) — to learn, to practise
• Pronunciation: /na.ɾa.ɯ/

Meaning

To learn (from a teacher); to take lessons in; to study under someone; to get training.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb with a u-stem. Emphasises learning through instruction from another person, unlike 勉強する which focuses on self-study effort. Takes the pattern: person に + subject を + 習う. Commonly used for skills and arts (ピアノを習う, to take piano lessons).

Examples

1. 子どものときピアノを習いました。 I took piano lessons when I was a kid.
2. 日本語を先生に習っています。 I'm learning Japanese from a teacher.
3. 来月から料理を習いたいです。 I want to start taking cooking lessons next month.

Usage Guide

Context: education, hobbies, skills

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 習 combines 羽 (wings) and 白 (white/plain), originally depicting a young bird repeatedly flapping its wings to learn to fly.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal