How to Say "Self Study" in Japanese

独学

dokugaku

The English phrase "self study" is translated into Japanese as 独学 (dokugaku).

The term refers to the act of learning a subject on one's own without a teacher.

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the kanji 独 (alone/solitary) and 学 (study/learning).

To express that an action is performed via self-study, the particle で is added to the noun, forming 独学で (by self-study).

dokugaku

The kanji 独 in 独学 is the same character used for 'Germany' ドイツ in its kanji form 独逸. This is because early Japanese translators used the character for 'solitary' to approximate the sound of 'Deutsch'.
Because of the heavy presence of cram schools known as 塾, achieving a goal through 独学 is often seen as a mark of special talent or extreme discipline in Japan.
In Japanese, you can use the word 独学 to describe your background, but if you want to emphasize the intense, lonely nature of your study, you might use the term 苦学, which implies studying through hardship or poverty.

独学で税理士試験に合格出来るでしょうか。
Is it possible to pass the tax accountant exam by self study?
This sentence shows how to use 独学 to ask about the possibility of passing an exam through self-study.
Tatoeba #424404 by blay_paul, translation #424405 by blay_paul
私は毎日自習しています。
I self-study every day.
彼は自主学習でプログラミングをマスターしました。
He mastered programming through self study.
彼は独学でプログラミングを覚えたそうです。
kare wa dokugaku de puroguramingu o oboeta sou desu.
I heard he learned programming through self study.

Misaki and Hiroto are talking about their hobbies.

大翔 Hiroto

ピアノがとても上手ですね。
Piano ga totemo jouzu desu ne.
You are very good at the piano.
美咲 Misaki

ありがとうございます。実は独学なんです。
Arigatou gozaimasu. Jitsu wa dokugaku nan desu.
Thank you. Actually, it's self study.
大翔 Hiroto

一人で練習したのはすごいですね。
Hitori de renshuu shita no wa sugoi desu ne.
It's amazing that you practiced alone.
美咲 Misaki

YouTubeの動画がとても役に立ちました。
YouTube no douga ga totemo yaku ni tachimashita.
YouTube videos were very helpful.

Sources

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