What does it mean word for word?
日本語を勉強しました (nihongo o benkyou shimashita) is composed of nihongo (Japanese language), o (object marker), benkyou (study) and shimashita (did/studied).
Which one should you use?
While benkyou shimashita means "studied" (implying a process), manabimashita (learned) can be used to emphasize the acquisition of knowledge or skills.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal situations, you can use 日本語を学びました to mean "I learned Japanese," or 日本語を習得しました to formally express that you have fully acquired Japanese language skills. In informal settings, you might say 日本語を勉強した using the plain past tense or 日本語を覚えたよ which adds the particle yo for emphasis. For expressing mastery informally, use 日本語をマスターした！ or if you want to say you have only learned a little bit, use 日本語をちょっとだけ覚えた。
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb shimashita is the polite past tense form of suru (to do).
How do you pronounce it?
nihongo o benkyou shimashita
Did you know?
- The word for 'study', benkyou (勉強), is composed of characters that literally mean 'hard' and 'strong'. This implies that to study is to exert intense effort or to push oneself physically or mentally.
- Adding ちょっとだけ (chotto dake) to your learning phrase is a common cultural practice of 'kenjou' or modesty to avoid sounding boastful about your skills.
- If you include the word 'I' (watashi) in the sentence 日本語を勉強しました, it can actually sound unnatural or strangely emphatic. Native speakers rely on context to know who is doing the studying.
Examples in context
- 大学で日本語を勉強しました。Daigaku de nihongo o benkyou shimashita.I studied Japanese at university.
- 独学で日本語を勉強しました。Dokugaku de nihongo o benkyou shimashita.I studied Japanese on my own.
- 去年、日本語を勉強しました。Kyonen, nihongo o benkyou shimashita.I studied Japanese last year.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Yota are talking about their hobbies.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太さんは、何か新しいことを始めましたか？Youta-san wa, nanika atarashii koto o hajimemashita ka?Yota, have you started anything new?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、去年から日本語を勉強しました。Hai, kyonen kara nihongo o benkyou shimashita.Yes, I learned Japanese starting last year.
- 陽葵 Himariすごいですね！どこで習ったんですか？Sugoi desu ne! Doko de naratta n desu ka?That's amazing! Where did you learn it?
- 陽太 Yotaオンラインのクラスで勉強しました。Onrain no kurasu de benkyou shimashita.I learned it in an online class.
