Japanese word of the day: 習う (Narau)

What does 習う (Narau) mean?

習う (Narau) (verb, godan, transitive) — To learn, to take lessons, to be taught, or to study under someone. This word specifically refers to learning from a teacher or instructor, rather than studying on your own.

Kanji details for 習

Character:　習 — learn
Radical: feather 羽

Example sentences with 習う (Narau)

• 私は日本語を習っています。
  (Watashi wa nihongo o naratteimasu.)
  🇯🇵 I am learning Japanese (from a teacher).

• ピアノを習いたいです。
  (Piano o naraitai desu.)
  🎹 I want to learn to play the piano.

• 子供たちは学校で数学を習っています。
  (Kodomotachi wa gakkō de sūgaku o naratteimasu.)
  📚 The children are learning math at school.

Confused about how to conjugate 習う?
Our conjugation tables can help.

習う (Narau) in context

習う is all about learning from someone else—think of it as “taking lessons” or “being taught.” If you’re attending a class, working with a tutor, or learning a skill from a mentor, 習う is the word you’ll use.

It’s different from 勉強する (benkyou suru), which is more about self-study, and 学ぶ (manabu), which can mean learning in a broader sense, including from experience or books. 習う always involves a teacher or instructor.

Additionaly, You’ll often hear the word 習い事 (naraigoto), which refers to extracurricular lessons or hobbies like music, sports, or art classes.