xuě or xuěxí?
wwolfeld
October 16, 2009, 04:04 PM posted in General DiscussionHi, I learned that "xuě" means to study or learn. But more recently I've seen "xuěxí" used for that purpose. What is the difference? How would I say, "I am studying/learning Chinese?" Thank you
simonpettersson
October 16, 2009, 08:43 PMHi!
Chinese words are often like this: You can use the one-character word or the more complete two-character word. Use the two-character word (学习, xuéxí) when you need to be clear. It's "safer". The one-character word (学, xué) works just as well, but might be more dependent on context. Often with these things, there are many characters with the same pronounciation, although there's not much risk of confusion in this case.
Also, as you can see, you should use second tone, not third.
pchenery
October 16, 2009, 11:05 PMContext sure does make a difference, especially when you have homophones. And "xue" certainly does have some.
But xue (study) is the second tone.
changye
October 17, 2009, 09:35 AM"学习" is not always interchangeable with "学", or at least they carry different connotations. The word "学习" often connotes more concrete actions for study/learning something such as reading a book, listening to a lecture, having a discussion, holding a meeting/conference and etc.
And this is the reason Chinese authorities love to use the word 学习, just like 学习雷锋精神， 学习文明礼貌，and 学习三个代表. On the other hand, "学", one-character word, has a broader (and more abstract) meaning than 学习 (two-character word), as is often the case in Chinese.
You can say "我学过汉语", but not "我学习过汉语". I don't think it's natural.
changye
October 17, 2009, 11:09 AM只有好好学习才能天天向上！
miantiao
October 17, 2009, 11:35 AM真的！ 那我们一定要注意！
changye
October 17, 2009, 11:49 AM说到《三字经》，“名副其实”，这个古典名著里的句子都是由三个字构成的，所以，《三字经》里绝对不可能有“好好学习”或“天天向上”。哈哈，我知道你只是开玩笑而已。
miantiao
October 17, 2009, 12:20 PMhey changye,
no, i was serious, i havent a clue mate. but i think by memeory the sanzijing heavily focuses on education and morality
vincentjpp
October 17, 2009, 12:52 PMi am studying english --我正在学习英语/我正在学英语，no difference between them , but....
'学习 'can be a noun '学' just a verb
雷锋精神的学习，三个代表的学习
what's more , 在书面表达中多用'学习'，使语意更加完整，（xuexi is used more often as written expression for the sake of the completed meaning)
而 '学' 则多用于口头表达， (我打算学《三字经》，想学么？） anyway , they are both right , (我打算学/学习下《三字经》，想学么/想学习下么？）
注：这里 使用 '学习下' 代替 '学习' ，只为句子更加连贯。the change is only for the smoothness of reading ,当然，'学习' 也是对的。
这种区别主要体现在 '学习' 有名词的用法， '学' 只作动词用，所以在替换的时候 会有所变化。
the main difference between them is that xuexi can be a noun ,but xue is only used as a verb .
in fact ,there is no rule for it , but we just can't say :"雷锋精神的学，三个代表的学"
i guess it could be a correction ,we can say '我学过汉语', also we can say '我学习过汉语' ,they are both right .
changye
October 17, 2009, 01:30 PMHi vincentjpp
Many thanks for the detailed explanation. Having read your post, I realise now that difference in usage (as a verb) between 学 and 学习 seems to be smaller than I thought before. 我今天学了不少东西，谢谢！
PS. Can you say "我今天学习了不少东西。"？
xfreez
October 17, 2009, 02:51 PMIt's xuéxí
We use "学" like a word,and "学习" is like a phrase,the same meaning.It's that makes sense?
changye
October 17, 2009, 11:14 AM听说，“好好学习，天天向上”这句话是毛主席说的。
domino9488
October 16, 2009, 06:55 PMit's学习