Multilingual Observation | There is such a thing as "studying" that isn't exhausting

Yesterday, while I was on the train for a meeting, I saw someone wearing a T-shirt with the intense slogan, "If you don't study, this is what happens!" After thinking, "Wow, what a destructive phrase!" I suddenly realized that in Japanese, the word "benkyo" (study) is quite heavy and carries a sense of being "exhausting."

In other languages, "study" is often more positive or simply means "to learn."

Here, I would like to introduce a few words that express "study" and the impressions or images associated with each.

Neutral-leaning

English: study

Quite neutral. It carries an image of effort and concentration, but there isn't much of a sense of being "forced."

Spanish: estudiar

An impression similar to the English word "study."

Italian: studiare

Similar to Spanish, it has an impression close to the English word "study."

Turkish: (ders) çalışmak

An expression consisting of "ders" (class, etc.) + "çalışmak" (to work). It has the nuance of "doing a task." There is no particular nuance of it being heavy or exhausting.

Hindi: पढ़ाई करना (paṛhāī karnā)

A word that means learning in a relatively flat way. It gives the impression of being used daily. There is no image of obligation or heaviness.

Positive-leaning

French: étudier, apprendre

Both "étudier" (to study) and "apprendre" (to learn) have a strong impression of being an approach to knowledge. One doesn't feel much of a sense of obligation.

Positive

Thai: เรียน (rian)

Means to learn or to be taught. A positive word used in daily life. It has the image of a soft word that can also be used when teaching language to small children.

Indonesian: belajar

It is close to the Thai word 'เรียน' (rian), meaning to learn or study, and I get the impression that this is also a word used in a positive sense.

Chinese: 学习 (xuéxí)

A word that gives the impression of viewing learning or studying in a completely positive light. It carries the image of focusing on 'acquiring knowledge.' *Note: In Chinese, '勉强' (miǎnqiǎng) is a completely negative word. I would like to share more about this another time.

Comparing them like this, I realized once again that the Japanese word 'benkyo' (study) feels more obligatory and forced compared to words in other languages. Phrases like 'You have to study' or 'Make sure you study' come to mind. Perhaps that is why it becomes so exhausting.

But when you peek into other languages,
it hits you that 'learning' can be much freer and more enjoyable.

Because language and thought are so strongly linked, it is difficult to escape the images that words carry. By re-examining things through other languages, it can be a catalyst for letting go of the habits of thought we engage in unconsciously. I want to share more of these realizations and discoveries.

* Multilingual Observation Table of Contents ↓