The verbs of learning: 勉強する, 習う and 学ぶ


How are the following verbs which are related to learning different to each
other?

  * 勉強する
  * 習う
  * 学ぶ




**学ぶ**

The original character is: 學

Meaning 2 hands writing characters and teaching a child

学ぶ is to imitate (or assimilate and repeat) what the teacher says. Study a
subject from a teacher.

Most meaningful examples:

> 私たちは学ぶために学校に行く (We go to school to learn.)
>
> 私は日本語を学びはじめてから４０年になる (It is forty years since I began the study of
> Japanese.)
>
> 英語を学び始めた (I started to learn English)

**習う**

This character is composed of 羽 (wings) and 白 (clear/understand)

It shows how to learn by repeated practice like a small bird learning to fly.

Most meaningful examples:

> バイクの乗り方を習う (learning to ride a bike)
>
> 車の運転を習っていない (I haven't learned to drive - I can't drive)
>
> 書道を習うのは楽しい (Learning calligraphy is fun.)

**勉強する**

勉 = make an effort  
強 = powerful

It came to be used for "to study" but outside the class. Nobody teaches you,
you "force" yourself to study something, do your homework, assimilate a
lesson...etc.

Most meaningful examples:

> 先生は私にもっと勉強するようにと言った (The teacher told me to study harder.)
>
> これからもっと勉強します (I'll study harder in future)

_Examples taken from EDICT and organized for this answer in the correct
categories._




**学ぶ**

The original character is: 學

Meaning 2 hands writing characters and teaching a child

学ぶ is to imitate (or assimilate and repeat) what the teacher says. Study a
subject from a teacher.

Most meaningful examples:

> 私たちは学ぶために学校に行く (We go to school to learn.)
>
> 私は日本語を学びはじめてから４０年になる (It is forty years since I began the study of
> Japanese.)
>
> 英語を学び始めた (I started to learn English)

**習う**

This character is composed of 羽 (wings) and 白 (clear/understand)

It shows how to learn by repeated practice like a small bird learning to fly.

Most meaningful examples:

> バイクの乗り方を習う (learning to ride a bike)
>
> 車の運転を習っていない (I haven't learned to drive - I can't drive)
>
> 書道を習うのは楽しい (Learning calligraphy is fun.)

**勉強する**

勉 = make an effort  
強 = powerful

It came to be used for "to study" but outside the class. Nobody teaches you,
you "force" yourself to study something, do your homework, assimilate a
lesson...etc.

Most meaningful examples:

> 先生は私にもっと勉強するようにと言った (The teacher told me to study harder.)
>
> これからもっと勉強します (I'll study harder in future)

_Examples taken from EDICT and organized for this answer in the correct
categories._

