<p>Consider the following:</p>
<p><strong>A Chinese-English Dictionary</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>engage in scholarship; do research</p>
<p>他是做学问的人, 不会做买卖。</p>
<p>Tā shì zuò xuéwèn de rén, bù huì zuò mǎimai.</p>
<p>He's <strong>a scholar</strong> and no businessman.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>ABC</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>engage in scholarly work</p>
<p>他是个做学问的人。</p>
<p>Tā shì ge zuò xuéwen de rén.</p>
<p>He's capable of <strong>scholarly</strong> work.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Oxford</strong> (Pocket)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>engage in scholarship, do research</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-29T11:45:02.903Z
2014-09-29T11:45:02.903Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Mou某
<p>I would suggest "engage in academic pursuit", as 學問 is what academia is all about.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-29T17:19:30.900Z
2014-09-29T17:19:30.900Z
monalisa
<p>This question is about the translation of "做學問" in English.</p>

<p>If I am asked to translate "做學問", then I would say "doing research". But somehow I feel that such translation of mine is insufficient to characterize the spirit of "做學問". </p>

<p>Therefore, I have to solicit some opinions and ideas on this issue. Thanks.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-29T07:24:09.323Z
engage in scholarship?
user6365
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-29T07:26:05.107Z
Thanks. Well, I have googled it but found nearly nothing satisfactory. :)
Yes
<phrase>
"做學問" in English?
# "做學問" in English?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-29)

This question is about the translation of "做學問" in English.

If I am asked to translate "做學問", then I would say "doing research". But somehow I feel that such translation of mine is insufficient to characterize the spirit of "做學問".

Therefore, I have to solicit some opinions and ideas on this issue. Thanks.

**Tags:** phrase

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: engage in scholarship?  
> **username_0**: Thanks. Well, I have googled it but found nearly nothing satisfactory. :)  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-29. Score: 2

Consider the following:

**A Chinese-English Dictionary**

> engage in scholarship; do research
>
> 他是做学问的人, 不会做买卖。
>
> Tā shì zuò xuéwèn de rén, bù huì zuò mǎimai.
>
> He's **a scholar** and no businessman.

**ABC**

> engage in scholarly work
>
> 他是个做学问的人。
>
> Tā shì ge zuò xuéwen de rén.
>
> He's capable of **scholarly** work.

**Oxford** (Pocket)

> engage in scholarship, do research


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-09-29. Score: 1

I would suggest "engage in academic pursuit", as 學問 is what academia is all about.


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