When it comes to learning and studying in Japanese, two verbs come up constantly: 勉強する (べんきょうする, benkyou suru) and 習う (ならう, narau). Both relate to learning, but they describe very different processes. Getting these right will make your Japanese sound natural in educational and everyday contexts.
| 勉強する (benkyou suru) | 習う (narau) | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | To study / to learn on your own | To take lessons / to learn from a teacher |
| Who teaches you? | You study yourself (book, class, solo effort) | A specific teacher or instructor |
| Focus | The act of studying / effort put in | Learning a skill from someone |
| Examples | 日本語を勉強する | ピアノを習う |
勉強する — To Study
勉強する emphasizes the act of studying — putting in effort to learn. It can happen alone, in a classroom, or through self-study. The focus is on your own effort and engagement with the material.
- 毎日日本語を勉強している。— I study Japanese every day.
- 試験のために勉強する。— To study for an exam.
- 図書館で勉強した。— I studied at the library.
- 歴史を勉強するのが好きだ。— I like studying history.
Key: 勉強する works with subjects (数学, 英語, 歴史) and is about the effort of learning, regardless of whether a teacher is involved.
習う — To Take Lessons From Someone
習う implies learning a skill from a specific person — a teacher, instructor, or mentor. There’s a person-to-person transmission of knowledge or skill involved.
- ピアノを先生に習っている。— I’m taking piano lessons from a teacher.
- 書道を習いたい。— I want to learn calligraphy (from an instructor).
- 料理を母に習った。— I learned cooking from my mother.
- 空手を道場で習っている。— I’m learning karate at a dojo.
Key: 習う often appears with に (marking who teaches you): 先生に習う (learn from the teacher). It’s common for skills like music, martial arts, calligraphy, dance, and cooking.
Can You Use Both?
Sometimes either verb works, but the nuance shifts:
| Sentence | Nuance |
|---|---|
| 日本語を勉強している | I’m studying Japanese (self-study or general effort) |
| 日本語を習っている | I’m taking Japanese lessons (from a teacher or tutor) |
| 料理を勉強している | I’m studying cooking (learning through effort, possibly books) |
| 料理を習っている | I’m taking cooking classes (from an instructor) |
Are you studying independently / putting in effort to learn?
→ 勉強する
Are you learning from a specific teacher or instructor?
→ 習うNatural Conversations
最近、何か習ってる？— Are you taking any lessons these days?
うん、ギターを習い始めたんだ。楽しいよ。— Yeah, I started taking guitar lessons. It’s fun.
日本語はどうやって勉強してるの？— How do you study Japanese?
アプリと、週1回オンラインで先生に習ってる。— Through an app, and I take lessons online from a teacher once a week.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 習う for self-study from a book or app.
❌ 本で日本語を習っている。(sounds like a book is “teaching” you in a personal way — unnatural)
✅ 本で日本語を勉強している。(studying Japanese with a book)
Note: 学ぶ (まなぶ, manabu) is a third option meaning “to learn” — more literary than 勉強する, used in academic or formal contexts. 学ぶ focuses on deep understanding and growth.
Quick Quiz
Choose 勉強する or 習う:
1. 私は今、独学でスペイン語を___。 (I’m self-studying Spanish.)
2. 子どもの頃、バレエを先生に___。 (As a child, I took ballet lessons from a teacher.)
Answers: 1. 勉強している 2. 習っていた
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