Meaning
博学 describes someone who has extensive knowledge across many fields or subjects. It emphasizes breadth of learning rather than depth in a single area. The term carries a positive connotation and is often used to praise scholars, teachers, or intellectuals who have studied widely.
Usage
This is a relatively formal or literary term, commonly used in written Chinese, academic contexts, or when praising someone's intellectual accomplishments. It appears frequently in educational settings and biographical descriptions. Native speakers might use it to describe respected professors, well-read individuals, or historical scholars.
Examples
- 01他是一位博学的教授，对文学和历史都很有研究。, .He is an erudite professor with extensive research in both literature and history.
- 02要成为博学的人，需要长期的阅读和学习。, .To become a learned person requires long-term reading and study.
Characters
Common collocations
- 博学多才learned and talented
- 博学多闻erudite and well-informed
- 博学的人a learned person
Antonyms
Origin
The character 博 originally meant 'extensive' or 'wide,' while 学 means 'learning' or 'knowledge.' Together they literally mean 'extensive learning,' a concept highly valued in traditional Chinese culture and Confucian scholarship.