JLPT N3・N5 Vocabulary – Difference between “習う” and “学ぶ”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “習ならう” and “学まなぶ”
2. 習ならう
3. 学まなぶ
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Do “習ならう” and “学まなぶ” have different meanings?

A: These two words are similar, but they actually have different meanings. Let’s understand the detailed meanings and learn the key points to use them correctly.

習ならう (JLPT N5)

[Meanings]
① To repeatedly practice as taught by someone and acquire or habituate the skills.
② To be taught knowledge or skills by someone.

[Commonly Used Words]
生いけ花ばな(flower arrangement)・お茶ちゃ(tea ceremony)・習字しゅうじ(calligraphy)・ピアノ(piano)

[Examples]
6か月げつ間かん、教習きょうしゅう所しょで車くるまの運転うんてんの仕方しかたを習ならいました。(①)
I learned how to drive at a driving school for six months.

友達ともだちにケーキの焼やき方かたを習ならったので、今日きょうは一人ひとりで焼やいてみます。(①)
I learned how to bake a cake from a friend, so today I’m going to try baking one by myself.

高校こうこうの先生せんせいから生いけ花ばなを習ならいました。(②)
I learned ikebana from my high school teacher.

学生がくせいの時ときに茶道さどうを習ならいました。(②)
I learned the tea ceremony when I was a student.

学まなぶ (JLPT N3)

[Meanings]
① To acquire knowledge, skills, or art by receiving instruction or by observing someone.
② To know something through personal experience or practice.
③ To study by oneself, or to learn through an educational institution or its curriculum.

[Examples]
職人しょくにんから多おおくの技術ぎじゅつを学まなびました。(①)
I learned many techniques from the craftsman.

先輩せんぱいから新あたらしい仕事しごとを学まなんでいます。(①)
I am learning new tasks from my senior at work.

留学りゅうがくをして自分じぶん以外いがいの国くにのことを知しる楽たのしさを学まなびました。(②)
Studying abroad, I learned the joy of discovering other countries.

アルバイトをしてお金かねの大切たいせつさを学まなびました。(②)
Working part-time, I learned the importance of money.

大学だいがくで日本にほん文学ぶんがくを学まなんでいます。(③)
I am studying Japanese literature at university.

本ほんを読よんで歴史れきしについて学まなびました。(③)
I learned about history by reading books.

Let’s Compare

“学まなぶ” is used to learn and acquire academic knowledge. It can also be used for ‘experiential’ learning, referring to experiences or lessons personally gained by the speaker.

On the other hand, “習ならう” involves learning practical skills from someone by repeatedly practicing as instructed. In other words, “習う” is used when being taught how to do something by someone.

With these points in mind, let’s consider the following examples.

♦ Using “習ならう” for experiential matters sounds unnatural.

[Examples]　
〇 いつも先輩せんぱいから仕事しごとの大切たいせつさを学まなんでいます。
I always learn the importance of work from my senior.

△ いつも先輩せんぱいから仕事しごとの大切たいせつさを習ならっています。
I always learn the importance of work from my senior.
⇒ Since “importance” is an experiential concept learned and understood by the speaker themselves, “学まなぶ” is more appropriate.

◆ There are two ways to think about learning.

If you are studying by yourself or through an educational institution, “学まなぶ” is used.
If you are doing it as taught by someone, then “習ならう” is used.

[Examples]　
大学だいがくで英語えいごを学まなんでいます。
I am studying English at university.
⇒ The speaker is studying English at university.
　　
毎週まいしゅう、教室きょうしつで英語えいごを習ならっています。
I am taking English lessons in a classroom every week.
⇒ It gives the impression that you are repeatedly practicing how to study English (every week).

Summary

[習ならう]

• To repeatedly practice as taught by someone and acquire or habituate the skills.
• To be taught knowledge or skills by someone.

[学まなぶ]

• To acquire knowledge, skills, or art by receiving instruction or by observing someone.
• To know something through personal experience or practice.
• To study by oneself, or to learn through an educational institution or its curriculum.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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