覚える vs 学ぶ
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 覚える
Listen to 学ぶ
| 覚える | 学ぶ |
|---|---|
o-KA-e-ru verb | まなぶ verb |
| to memorize; to learn and remember | to learn; to study and acquire knowledge or skill |
How they differ
学ぶ focuses on the process of learning, not the result of remembering. 覚える means you have learned something and can retain it, while 学ぶ emphasizes studying, gaining understanding, or picking up knowledge and skills.
When to use each
When to use 覚える: Use 覚える when you want to say you have memorized or retained something in your mind.
When to use 学ぶ: Use 学ぶ when you want to stress the act of learning, studying, or acquiring knowledge over time.
Side-by-side examples
- 道を覚えた。
(I learned the way and remember it now.) - 彼は日本語を学んでいる。
(He is learning Japanese.)
Register & nuance: 学ぶ is neutral but often sounds more intellectual or educational than 覚える.