What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of takusan (a lot/many) and manabimashita (the polite past tense of manabu, to learn).
Which one should you use?
While manabu is used for academic or systematic study, if you want to say you learned a practical skill or a lesson through experience, manabu remains correct, but osowaru (to be taught/to learn from) is a common alternative.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form たくさん学びました is polite and suitable for most social situations, including talking to teachers or superiors. For a more formal tone, you can use 多くのことを学びました or たくさんのことを習得しました (I acquired a lot of knowledge). In informal situations, you can use たくさん学んだよ or すごく勉強になった (It was a really educational experience).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb manabimashita is in the polite past tense. The informal version of the phrase uses the dictionary form mananda instead of the polite manabimashita.
How do you pronounce it?
takusan manabimashita
Did you know?
- The verb manabu is written with a kanji that combines the radicals for 'young' and 'to enter'. This reflects an ancient view of learning as the process of a youth entering into the world of knowledge.
- While manabu describes the act of learning, the common informal alternative benkyō ni natta literally means 'it became study'. This shifts the focus from the person's effort to the experience itself being educational.
- If you want to sound more humble, you might use the verb osowaru instead of manabu. While manabu focuses on the act of studying, osowaru implies that someone else graciously bestowed knowledge upon you.
Examples in context
- 日本語の講座に参加し、多くのことを学びました。I participated in a Japanese course and learned a lot.
- 日本の文化についてたくさん学んだよ。I learned a lot about Japanese culture.
- この講義で、たくさん学びました。Kono kougi de, takusan manabimashita.I learned a lot in this lecture.
- 海外での生活で、たくさん学びました。Kaigai de no seikatsu de, takusan manabimashita.I learned a lot from living abroad.
Example conversation
Two students talking after a history lecture.
- 大翔 Hiroto今日の授業はどうだった？Kyou no jugyou wa dou datta?How was today's class?
- 美咲 Misakiとても面白くて、たくさん学びました。Totemo omoshirokute, takusan manabimashita.It was very interesting, and I learned a lot.
- 大翔 Hirotoそれは良かったね。Sore wa yokatta ne.That's great.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くんもそう思う？Hiroto-kun mo sou omou?Do you think so too, Hiroto?
