Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 勉強 | benkyō | [bẽ̞ŋʲkʲo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 学習 | gakushū | [ɡa̠kɯ̟̊ɕɨː] (narrow) |
| 研究 | kenkyū | [kẽ̞ŋʲkʲɨː] (narrow) |
The most common way to express the concept of studying is using 勉強. For example, Benkyō no jikan (勉強の時間) means 'study time'.
Which one should you use?
While all three terms relate to studying, they are used in different contexts. 勉強 is the most common term and refers to general studying, such as schoolwork or personal self-improvement. 学習 refers to a more systematic or academic process of learning, often used in educational or psychological contexts. 研究 is used when the studying involves deep research or a specialized investigation into a specific subject rather than just studying for an exam.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can create a noun phrase meaning 'currently studying' or 'in the middle of study' by adding 中 (chū) to the noun, resulting in 勉強中.
How do you pronounce it?
benkyō
Did you know?
- While 勉強 is used for schoolwork, it can also be used as a verb meaning 'to give a discount' in a shop. In this context, the shopkeeper is 'straining' their profit margin for the customer.
- To describe a 'study session' where students cram for exams, Japanese uses the term 一夜漬け, which literally means 'overnight pickling'.
- The word 勉強 originally meant 'forcing oneself' or 'striving' in Chinese and Japanese. It only shifted to mean 'studying' because the act of learning was viewed as a strenuous effort of will.
Examples in context
- 勉強してるの？Are you studying?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is currently studying using 勉強.Tatoeba #9495578 by small_snow, translation #68954 by CK
- 彼は勉強中です。He's now studying.This sentence uses 勉強 to state that someone is currently studying.Tatoeba #100113 by bunbuku, translation #593278 by CK
- 夜通し勉強した。I was up all night studying.This sentence uses 勉強 to describe an all-night study session.Tatoeba #12299265 by small_snow, translation #2543750 by CK
- 彼は一生懸命勉強しています。He is studying very hard.
- 289 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are talking about their schedules.
- 美咲 Misaki今日はもう帰るの？Kyou wa mou kaeru no?Are you going home already today?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、家で勉強があるんだ。Un, ie de benkyou ga aru nda.Yeah, I have some studying to do at home.
- 美咲 Misakiまた頑張ってるね。Mata ganbatteru ne.You're working hard again.
- 陽太 Yotaテストがあるからね。Tesuto ga aru kara ne.Because I have a test.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “studying” translations and entries 勉強, 学習, 研究, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
