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On'yomi
ガク
GAKU
Kun'yomi
まな.ぶ
manabu

study · learning · science

wisdom

Details

Strokes8
Frequency#63
Radicalchild(3)
Old Form

Stroke Order

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Strokes8

Component Breakdown

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Schoolhouse top + child

Cultural Context

Etymology

Child (子) learning with hands (臼). A child studying under a roof.

Symbolism

Knowledge, education, aspiration. Reflects Japanese culture's emphasis on lifelong learning.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Deepening learning

Anime & Manga

暗殺教室

Assassination Classroom(2012)

anime/manga

Set in a school (classroom). Unique school story where students aim to assassinate their teacher.

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Games

ペルソナ

Persona(1996)

PlayStation/PC

Developer: Atlus

RPG traversing school life and otherworld. 'Students' as protagonists.

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Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

曲学阿世

きょくがくあせい

prostitution of learning; twisting the truth and truckling to the times; prostitution of learning

人生哲学

じんせいてつがく

philosophy of life; philosophy of life

博学多才

はくがくたさい

wide knowledge and versatile talents; wide knowledge and versatile talents

浅学非才

せんがくひさい

one's lack of learning or ability; shallow learning and limited ability; one's lack of learning or ability

自学自習

じがくじしゅう

teaching oneself; learning by oneself; self-study; teaching oneself

苦学力行

くがくりっこう

strenuous pursuit of learning under difficulties; strenuous pursuit of learning under difficulties

無学文盲

むがくもんもう

ignorant and illiterate; uneducated and illiterate; uneducated and illiterate person; ignorant and illiterate

外題学問

げだいがくもん

putting on a knowing air when one only knows the title of the book (play, etc.); pretending to understand the nature of something when one only knows its name; putting on a knowing air when one only knows the title of the book (play, etc.)

浅学寡聞

せんがくかぶん

shallow learning and limited information; being ignorant and badly informed; shallow learning and limited information

博学多識

はくがくたしき

erudition and extensive knowledge; erudition and extensive knowledge

無学無識

むがくむしき

illiterate and ignorant; uneducated and lacking in wisdom and discernment; illiterate and ignorant

無学無知

むがくむち

illiterate and ignorant; illiterate and ignorant

下学上達

かがくじょうたつ

beginning one's studies with something familiar and gradually increasing the depth of learning; beginning one's studies with something familiar and gradually increasing the depth of learning

産学協同

さんがくきょうどう

industry-university cooperation; industry-university cooperation

Proverbs & Idioms

学問に王道なし

がくもんにおうどうなし

There is no royal road to learning

Learning requires effort