배우다 vs 익히다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 배우다
Listen to 익히다
| 배우다 | 익히다 |
|---|---|
bae-U-da verb | ik-hi-da verb |
| to learn; to study and gain knowledge or a skill | to master; to learn thoroughly and become skilled at something |
How they differ
익히다 is more about becoming thoroughly familiar with a skill, method, or fact after repeated practice or study. 배우다 is broader and simply means to learn or study something new, while 익히다 often implies a stronger sense of mastery and habit.
When to use each
When to use 배우다: Use 배우다 when you are talking generally about learning a subject, language, or skill for the first time.
When to use 익히다: Use 익히다 when you want to emphasize that something has been learned well, repeatedly practiced, or fully mastered.
Side-by-side examples
- 저는 한국어를 배우고 있어요.
(I am learning Korean.) - 저는 한국어 발음을 익히고 있어요.
(I am getting used to Korean pronunciation and mastering it.)
Register & nuance: 익히다 is common in everyday and written Korean, and it sounds a bit more goal-focused than 배우다.