学 (xué) means "to study, learn" with 8 strokes, radical 子 (child), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: to study
Other meanings:
- learn
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
The oracle bone graph shows two hands manipulating crossed tally sticks or knotted cords (the 爻 element) above a roof, with the later traditional form 學 adding 子 (child) beneath. It depicts adults teaching a child to handle counting rods or divination cords inside a building.
Form evolution
Oracle and bronze forms are busy and pictorial, with clear hands, sticks, roof, and child. Seal script stacks the components vertically and regularises the hands into 臼-like shapes. Clerical script smooths the strokes, and the PRC simplified form 学 replaces the upper hands-and-sticks cluster with a simple three-dot 兴-top while keeping 子.
How the meaning evolved
The original sense was being taught or imitating, centred on the child learning from elders. It broadened to study, learn, and acquire knowledge in general, and then nominalised into branches of learning, giving compounds like 学校 (school), 学生 (student), and 科学 (science).
Cultural note
The Analects opens with 学而时习之，不亦说乎 (to learn and regularly practice it, is that not a pleasure?), which fixes 学 at the heart of Confucian self-cultivation. Learners often confuse simplified 学 with 党 or 觉 because all three share the 丷 top; the 子 at the bottom is the reliable clue for 学.
Mnemonic
A child under a roof with books — to study
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | xué |
| Meanings | to study, learn |
| Stroke count | 8 strokes |
| Radical | 子 (#39: child) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1, write by hand at HSK 1-2 |
| Frequency | #66 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 学
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 学 | xué | to study, learn | HSK 1 |
| 同学 | tóngxué | shoolmate | HSK 1 |
| 学习 | xuéxí | to study | HSK 1 |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | HSK 1 |
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student | HSK 1 |
| 数学 | shùxué | Mathematics | HSK 3 |
| 留学 | liúxué | Overseas Study | HSK 3 |
| 科学 | kēxué | science | HSK 4 |
| 学期 | xuéqī | Semester | HSK 3 |
| 文学 | wénxué | literature | HSK 5 |
| 学术 | xuéshù | learning | HSK 5 |
| 化学 | huàxué | Chemistry | HSK 5 |
| 学历 | xuélì | education degree | HSK 5 |
| 学问 | xuéwen | knowledge | HSK 6 |
| 哲学 | zhéxué | Philosophy | HSK 5 |
| 辍学 | chuòxué | to drop out of school | |
| 大学 | dàxué | university, college | HSK 1 |
| 放学 | fàngxué | to finish school | HSK 3 |
Related characters
Similar meaning (action)
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.