verb / noun HSK 1
Traditional 學
to study · to learn · school · learning · subject of study
Meaning
学 is one of the most fundamental words in Mandarin, meaning 'to study' or 'to learn.' As a verb, it describes the act of acquiring knowledge or skills. As a noun, it can refer to learning itself, a field of study, or sometimes school in compound words.
Usage
学 is extremely common in everyday speech and appears in countless compounds. When used as a verb, it often takes an object (学中文 'study Chinese'). It's neutral in register and used by all age groups. Common patterns include 学习 (to study), 学校 (school), and 学生 (student).
Examples
- 01我在学中文。.I am studying Chinese.
- 02你学会了吗？?Have you learned it?
Common collocations
- 学中文to study Chinese
- 学会to learn (and master)
- 学期semester, term
- 上学to go to school
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 學 shows a child under a roof with hands, symbolizing passing down knowledge. The simplified form 学 retains key elements while reducing strokes for easier writing.