Differences between 學 and 學習 in Chinese

Both “學” (xué) and “學習” (xuéxí) can be used as verbs, meaning “to study” or “to learn.”

e.g.

我們學/學習漢語四年了。(Wǒmen xué/xuéxí hànyǔ sì nián le.) We have been studying Chinese for four years.

他才5歲就開始學/學習電腦了。(Tā cái 5 suì jiù kāishǐ xué/xuéxí diànnǎo le.) He started learning about computers at the age of 5.

大家學/學習得很努力。(Dàjiā xué/xuéxí de hěn nǔlì.) Everyone is studying very diligently.

1. “學” (xué) can also mean “to imitate” or “to mimic.”

e.g.

別學我說話！(Bié xué wǒ shuōh(huán)uà!) Don’t imitate the way I speak!? 別學習我說話！

這種坐姿一般人學不了。(Zhè zhǒng zuòzī yībān rén xué bù liǎo.) Most people can’t learn this kind of sitting posture.? 這種坐姿一般人學習不了。

2. “學習” (xuéxí) can mean “to emulate” and can be used in phrases like “向/跟……學習” (xiàng/gēn… xuéxí), meaning “to learn from” or “to emulate.”

The object of “學習” (xuéxí) is generally knowledge or skills and cannot refer to a person. The structure “向/跟……學習……” (xiàng/gēn… xuéxí) is a commonly used construction.

e.g.

請大家向班長學習，多么負責啊！(Qǐng dàjiā xiàng bānzhǎng xuéxí, duōme fùzé a!) Please learn from the class monitor; how responsible they are!

我們要向有經驗的人學習技術。(Wǒmen yào xiàng yǒu jīngyàn de rén xuéxí jìshù.) We should learn technical skills from experienced individuals.

你要向這位英雄學習不怕死的精神。(Nǐ yào xiàng zhè wèi yīngxióng xuéxí bùpàsǐ de jīngshén.) You should learn the fearless spirit from this hero.

“學” (xué) can function as a noun with meanings like “l(fā)earning,” “knowledge,” “subject of study,” “branch of learning,” or “school/college.” “學習” (xuéxí) does not have these meanings.

e.g.

張老師是一位著名的學者。(Zhāng lǎoshī shì yī wèi zhùmíng de xuézhě. )Teacher Zhang is a renowned scholar.

我們要有一些語言學的知識。（Wǒmen yào yǒu yīxiē yǔyán xué de zhīshi.） We should have some knowledge of linguistics.

她還在那個中學上學。（Tā hái zài nàge zhōngxué shàng xué.） She is still attending that middle school.

“學” (xué) and “學習” (xuéxí) both function as verbs with the primary meaning of “to study” or “to learn.” However, “學” (xué) has the additional meaning of “to imitate” or “to mimic” and is more versatile in its usage. On the other hand, “學習” (xuéxí) can mean “to emulate” and is often used in phrases like “向/跟……學習” (xiàng/gēn… xuéxí) to convey “l(fā)earning from” or “emulating” someone or something. Importantly, “學習” (xuéxí) is used specifically when referring to acquiring knowledge or skills and cannot be applied to individuals. Furthermore, “學” (xué) can serve as a noun with various meanings like “l(fā)earning,” “knowledge,” “subject of study,” “branch of learning,” or “school/college,” while “學習” (xuéxí) does not have these noun-related meanings.

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