勉強

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 毎日日本語を勉強しています。▶ —
   I study Japanese every day.
2. もっと勉強してください。▶ —
   Please study more.

Collocations

Mnemonic

べんきょう — 勉強, Sino-Japanese. Unpack the two kanji ── 勉 (to exert) + 強 (strong) = 'to exert oneself strongly'. The intensity is right there on the surface ── what Japanese saw as 'study' was, from the start, compelled effort. Three languages diverge on these very characters ── Japanese 勉強: study. Korean: chose a different compound, gongbu (工夫), not myeongang. Chinese 勉强 miǎnqiǎng: drifted to 'reluctantly, against one's will' ── the opposite sense. The same two kanji, a fossil of meaning splitting three ways across Japan, Korea, and China. The idiom 勉強になりました ('that was instructive') is an almost ritual thank-you at the end of meetings and interviews. The Korean readings myeon / gang are sister to the onyomi べん / きょう.

Quick check

1. How does 勉強 mean different things in Japanese vs Chinese?

   • Japanese = "study" (positive); Chinese = "reluctantly, by force" (negative)
   • Same meaning, different pronunciation
   • Japanese for school only, Chinese for work only
   • Identical meaning