<p>I don't know the answer from a grammatical point of view, but I know both character's etymology which can give you a hint.  </p>

<p><strong>学</strong> in its traditional form is 學, an ideogram of two hands putting something (knowledge?) into a child's head, thus <em>teaching</em>, and, from the child's standpoint, <em>learning</em>.  </p>

<p><strong>习</strong> in its traditional form is 習, two feathered wings on top of white (originally a sun) and it meant learning or practicing how to fly, thus, <em>practice</em>.  </p>

<p>So while 学 means basically <em>to learn</em>, 习 moves the meaning more towards learning by <em>practice</em>, but this is pure speculation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T16:19:48.033Z
I knew a slightly different etymology for 学, by the way... :P
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T16:21:12.937Z
Please share. I got this from a book about Japanese, but it talked about the Chinese traditional character.
Petruza
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T16:22:37.023Z
Actually I got this for Japanese... It says that the part below is a kid (and we agree) but the part above represents the roof of a school, or a place to learn at, so "studying". I'm not sure this is the ultimate etymology, but it seemed reasonable. It'd be nice to know the official one, if available... :D
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T17:28:12.080Z
That's the exact etymology I knew for 字, a child under a roof studying the *characters*.
Petruza
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T19:28:40.613Z
Anyway, even if interesting, your post doesn't exactly answer my question. In meaning I guess, but not usage, I was more expecting rules and examples for these rules... :)
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-09T01:27:30.570Z
Yeah, that's what the first line says. :D
Petruza
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-09T19:03:53.383Z
-1: I would avoid citing "etymologies" for characters without a source. There are many specious folk etymologies and character mnemonics masquerading as real etymologies in Chinese learning circles, and, though they may be useful memorization tools, they rarely give insight into the real structure or usage of the language.
Alf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-10T01:50:34.893Z
Was the -1 really necessary? can you at least correct me and give the right etymology?  I read this in a book whose title I can't remember.
Petruza
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-10T04:28:19.143Z
@Petruza: I hope my comment didn't come across as rude. I think this would have made an excellent comment, but I don't think it's appropriate as an answer here. I don't know the correct etymology for 学 off the top of my head, but that's not the point: the point is that an un-sourced etymology is useful as a memory aid, but doesn't give any insight into how the language really works. Chinese etymology is a very tricky subject and is plagued by misinformation, and it's hard to tell what is an actual origin of a character and what's a just a nice-looking post hoc explanation.
Alf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-10T04:34:23.583Z
@Petruza: and, to clarify, an etymology with a source would have been a different story -- without a source, it's very hard to tell truth from convenient fiction.
Alf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-10T19:28:46.457Z
But that's why I made clear that this wasn't an answer but it could just give them a clue. This is what's Stack exchange is all about, users give their best answers and then, the best one will be selected. Besides, I'm telling here that I read it on a book, I can't remember the book but I didn't make this up, and anyway, this is not a PhD paper so having unconfirmed sources wouldn't hurt too much.
Petruza
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-13T13:59:14.430Z
I think this is a better answer for the question. 学 means to learn, 习 means to practice. e.g "子曰: 学而时习之, 不亦说乎."
Fivesheep
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T16:16:32.743Z
2012-01-08T16:16:32.743Z
Petruza
<p>When you learn Chinese, you will get more if you know the origin of the words.</p>

<p>'学习' origins form the ancient sentence '学而时习之', which means that you learn (学) theory and use (习) the theory correctly. So the 学 and '学习' are a little different although you can exchange them in most cases. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-16T10:06:33.520Z
This is Kongzi/Confucius Analects I.1.  (I use both names for clarity though I favor English speakers moving over to say Kongzi.)
Colin McLarty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-01T17:52:19.733Z
2012-06-01T17:52:19.733Z
jerod.yan
<p>学 is gaining knowledge or skill.
习 is to do practice.
学习 is to study something, it can be converted to a noun to mean the behavior of studying.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-16T08:14:59.450Z
2015-03-16T08:14:59.450Z
Oscar
<p>I'd also add that 学 by itself feels incomplete. In most sentences, 2 characters will be required for clarity, meaning and balance. For example:</p>

<p>学着 (xue2zhe) studying &lt;- I am not 100% certain if this is acceptable. Native speakers care to comment?</p>

<p>学会 (xue2hui4) here 会 is the complement of 学 and means that after studying, one is able to do something</p>

<p>学到手 (xue2dao4shou3) is also a completed form of the verb, it means to have obtained some knowledge or skill through study</p>

<p>学完 (xue2wan2) to finish studying</p>

<p>学好 (xue2hao3) either to finish studying successfully or to study well (i.e. to learn from good examples)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-22T23:31:36.800Z
2012-02-22T23:31:36.800Z
aelephant
<p>I'm still a learner but I think 学 is study in general and 学习 is doing exercises, learning something</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-02T06:45:26.707Z
This impression perhaps stems from [练习](http://youdao.com/w/%E7%BB%83%E4%B9%A0) = "practice", [实习](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%AE%9E%E4%B9%A0) = "intern", [复习](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%A4%8D%E4%B9%A0) = "review", [预习](http://youdao.com/w/%E9%A2%84%E4%B9%A0) = "prepare before class", etc.  [Petruza's answer](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/a/745/8099) also mentions this.
Becky 李蓓
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-01T18:32:40.790Z
2019-12-01T18:32:40.790Z
Arusyak Harutyunyan
<p>「学」 can also mean "to imitate" or "to repeat after &lt;somebody&gt;", whereas 「学习」 does not have this meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-02T10:57:37.393Z
2012-06-02T10:57:37.393Z
Kal
<p>1和3意思一样，学和学习在不同的地方表达的含义不同，但是上面的1和3句子中，差不多是一样的。</p>

<p>我个人觉得，学习，一般是指学习知识比较多。学，就包含更多了，例如学做饭，一般不太会说学习做饭。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-01T05:27:14.270Z
2019-12-01T05:27:14.270Z
user23182
<p>Like many Chinese words, 学 and 学习 differ primarily not in meaning but in length; in many cases, 学习 is chosen over 学 because the sentence calls for a disyllabic verb for reasons of prosody. </p>

<p>Your example number 2 is a good one. We say 我在大学学习 not because 学习 can be used intransitively but 学 cannot be, but because the sentence *我在大学学 sounds "incomplete." (You may have already learned that many disyllabic verbs cannot be used with monosyllabic objects; this is just one example of how prosody often governs the formation of Chinese sentences.)</p>

<p>Many (most? all?) Chinese words come in "short" and "long" forms. Native speakers switch back and forth between these forms effortlessly as the situation requires. In many cases, fixed expressions can take one form but not the other. Just another thing we students of Chinese have to learn. :)</p>

<p>By the way, there is one "grammatical" difference between 学 and 学习 that I can think of off the top of my head. 学习 can be used as a noun to mean "studies" or "academic skill", e.g.</p>

<p>我学习很好. -> "I am good in my studies." or "I do well in school."</p>

<p>(I'm not sure if this is technically a noun. I think most people would gloss it as a nested topic-comment structure: 我//学习//很好.)</p>

<p>P.S. Most of my knowledge about this topic comes from the excellent "Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar" published by Routledge.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-02T11:06:51.937Z
Note that "学” can also mean "studies" or "academic skill", but only in 成语 or ancient Chinese text. Example: "学无止境“。
Earth Engine
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-13T10:02:59.550Z
*"You may have already learned that many disyllabic verbs cannot be used with monosyllabic objects"* I didn't know about that actually. Thank you! :) So there must be a matching "disyllabic verb + disyllabic word" and "monosyllabic verb + monosyllabic word"? I'll accept yours.
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-23T03:35:42.467Z
Jon's answer is pretty solid. I prefer to look at sentences instead of asking native speakers.

[学](https://3000hanzi.com/chinese-to-english/definition/%E5%AD%A6) vs. 
[学习](https://3000hanzi.com/chinese-to-english/definition/%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0)
stevendaniels
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-09T04:36:49.413Z
2012-02-24T15:51:51.210Z
2012-02-24T15:51:51.210Z
Alf
<p>I know both mean <em>"to study"</em> and I also know that while 学 (xué) is transitive, 学习 (xué xí) can be both intransitive and transitive, for example:</p>

<ol>
<li>我学中文。 (I study «what?» Chinese) = transitive;</li>
<li>我在大学学习。 (I study at the university) = intransitive;</li>
<li>我学习中文。 (I study «what?» Chinese) = transitive.</li>
</ol>

<p>But are there other differences? Also in usage and meaning? My grammar textbook was helpful enough but I'd like to hear something from the native speakers too. :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T15:07:58.670Z
The 2nd example should be 我在大学学习.
fefe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T15:14:53.757Z
I don't think I can give you an answer right now. However, "学习" can be transitive. 我学习中文 is perfectly OK for me.
fefe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-08T15:18:14.680Z
Well, when you feel you can, consider posting one! :) You're right, I re-checked my textbook and it confirms that.
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-09T06:13:33.157Z
cf. also 复习 and 预习
jsj
<word-choice><verbs>
What's the difference between 学 and 学习?
# What's the difference between 学 and 学习?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-08)

I know both mean *"to study"* and I also know that while 学 (xué) is transitive, 学习 (xué xí) can be both intransitive and transitive, for example:

1. 我学中文。 (I study «what?» Chinese) = transitive;
2. 我在大学学习。 (I study at the university) = intransitive;
3. 我学习中文。 (I study «what?» Chinese) = transitive.

But are there other differences? Also in usage and meaning? My grammar textbook was helpful enough but I'd like to hear something from the native speakers too. :)

**Tags:** word-choice, verbs

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The 2nd example should be 我在大学学习.  
> **username_1**: I don't think I can give you an answer right now. However, "学习" can be transitive. 我学习中文 is perfectly OK for me.  
> **username_0**: Well, when you feel you can, consider posting one! :) You're right, I re-checked my textbook and it confirms that.  
> **username_2**: cf. also 复习 and 预习  

---

## 8 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-01-09. Score: 32 | Accepted answer

Like many Chinese words, 学 and 学习 differ primarily not in meaning but in length; in many cases, 学习 is chosen over 学 because the sentence calls for a disyllabic verb for reasons of prosody.

Your example number 2 is a good one. We say 我在大学学习 not because 学习 can be used intransitively but 学 cannot be, but because the sentence \*我在大学学 sounds "incomplete." (You may have already learned that many disyllabic verbs cannot be used with monosyllabic objects; this is just one example of how prosody often governs the formation of Chinese sentences.)

Many (most? all?) Chinese words come in "short" and "long" forms. Native speakers switch back and forth between these forms effortlessly as the situation requires. In many cases, fixed expressions can take one form but not the other. Just another thing we students of Chinese have to learn. :)

By the way, there is one "grammatical" difference between 学 and 学习 that I can think of off the top of my head. 学习 can be used as a noun to mean "studies" or "academic skill", e.g.

我学习很好. -> "I am good in my studies." or "I do well in school."

(I'm not sure if this is technically a noun. I think most people would gloss it as a nested topic-comment structure: 我//学习//很好.)

P.S. Most of my knowledge about this topic comes from the excellent "Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar" published by Routledge.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: *"You may have already learned that many disyllabic verbs cannot be used with monosyllabic objects"* I didn't know about that actually. Thank you! :) So there must be a matching "disyllabic verb + disyllabic word" and "monosyllabic verb + monosyllabic word"? I'll accept yours.  
> **username_15**: Jon's answer is pretty solid. I prefer to look at sentences instead of asking native speakers.  [学](https://3000hanzi.com/chinese-to-english/definition/%E5%AD%A6) vs.  [学习](https://3000hanzi.com/chinese-to-english/definition/%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0)  
> **username_14**: Note that "学” can also mean "studies" or "academic skill", but only in 成语 or ancient Chinese text. Example: "学无止境“。  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-01-08. Score: 7

I don't know the answer from a grammatical point of view, but I know both character's etymology which can give you a hint.

**学** in its traditional form is 學, an ideogram of two hands putting something (knowledge?) into a child's head, thus *teaching*, and, from the child's standpoint, *learning*.

**习** in its traditional form is 習, two feathered wings on top of white (originally a sun) and it meant learning or practicing how to fly, thus, *practice*.

So while 学 means basically *to learn*, 习 moves the meaning more towards learning by *practice*, but this is pure speculation.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I knew a slightly different etymology for 学, by the way... :P  
> **username_3**: Please share. I got this from a book about Japanese, but it talked about the Chinese traditional character.  
> **username_0**: Actually I got this for Japanese... It says that the part below is a kid (and we agree) but the part above represents the roof of a school, or a place to learn at, so "studying". I'm not sure this is the ultimate etymology, but it seemed reasonable. It'd be nice to know the official one, if available... :D  
> **username_3**: That's the exact etymology I knew for 字, a child under a roof studying the *characters*.  
> **username_0**: Anyway, even if interesting, your post doesn't exactly answer my question. In meaning I guess, but not usage, I was more expecting rules and examples for these rules... :)  
> **username_3**: Yeah, that's what the first line says. :D  
> **username_4**: -1: I would avoid citing "etymologies" for characters without a source. There are many specious folk etymologies and character mnemonics masquerading as real etymologies in Chinese learning circles, and, though they may be useful memorization tools, they rarely give insight into the real structure or usage of the language.  
> **username_3**: Was the -1 really necessary? can you at least correct me and give the right etymology?  I read this in a book whose title I can't remember.  
> **username_4**: @username_3: I hope my comment didn't come across as rude. I think this would have made an excellent comment, but I don't think it's appropriate as an answer here. I don't know the correct etymology for 学 off the top of my head, but that's not the point: the point is that an un-sourced etymology is useful as a memory aid, but doesn't give any insight into how the language really works. Chinese etymology is a very tricky subject and is plagued by misinformation, and it's hard to tell what is an actual origin of a character and what's a just a nice-looking post hoc explanation.  
> **username_4**: @username_3: and, to clarify, an etymology with a source would have been a different story -- without a source, it's very hard to tell truth from convenient fiction.  
> **username_3**: But that's why I made clear that this wasn't an answer but it could just give them a clue. This is what's Stack exchange is all about, users give their best answers and then, the best one will be selected. Besides, I'm telling here that I read it on a book, I can't remember the book but I didn't make this up, and anyway, this is not a PhD paper so having unconfirmed sources wouldn't hurt too much.  
> **username_5**: I think this is a better answer for the question. 学 means to learn, 习 means to practice. e.g "子曰: 学而时习之, 不亦说乎."  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2012-06-01. Score: 5

When you learn Chinese, you will get more if you know the origin of the words.

'学习' origins form the ancient sentence '学而时习之', which means that you learn (学) theory and use (习) the theory correctly. So the 学 and '学习' are a little different although you can exchange them in most cases.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: This is Kongzi/Confucius Analects I.1.  (I use both names for clarity though I favor English speakers moving over to say Kongzi.)  

---

### Answer by username_8 on 2015-03-16. Score: 3

学 is gaining knowledge or skill.
习 is to do practice.
学习 is to study something, it can be converted to a noun to mean the behavior of studying.


---

### Answer by username_9 on 2012-02-22. Score: 3

I'd also add that 学 by itself feels incomplete. In most sentences, 2 characters will be required for clarity, meaning and balance. For example:

学着 (xue2zhe) studying <- I am not 100% certain if this is acceptable. Native speakers care to comment?

学会 (xue2hui4) here 会 is the complement of 学 and means that after studying, one is able to do something

学到手 (xue2dao4shou3) is also a completed form of the verb, it means to have obtained some knowledge or skill through study

学完 (xue2wan2) to finish studying

学好 (xue2hao3) either to finish studying successfully or to study well (i.e. to learn from good examples)


---

### Answer by username_10 on 2019-12-01. Score: 0

I'm still a learner but I think 学 is study in general and 学习 is doing exercises, learning something

> **Comments:**
> **username_11**: This impression perhaps stems from [练习](http://youdao.com/w/%E7%BB%83%E4%B9%A0) = "practice", [实习](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%AE%9E%E4%B9%A0) = "intern", [复习](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%A4%8D%E4%B9%A0) = "review", [预习](http://youdao.com/w/%E9%A2%84%E4%B9%A0) = "prepare before class", etc.  [username_3's answer](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/a/745/8099) also mentions this.  

---

### Answer by username_12 on 2012-06-02. Score: 0

「学」 can also mean "to imitate" or "to repeat after <somebody>", whereas 「学习」 does not have this meaning.


---

### Answer by username_13 on 2019-12-01. Score: 0

1和3意思一样，学和学习在不同的地方表达的含义不同，但是上面的1和3句子中，差不多是一样的。

我个人觉得，学习，一般是指学习知识比较多。学，就包含更多了，例如学做饭，一般不太会说学习做饭。


---

