Japanese word

独学

Pronunciation

Romajidokugaku

Meaning

  • nounself-study

Example

私は独学で英語を学びます。watashi wa doku gaku de ei go o mana bi ma su

I learn English through self-study.

Illustration for 独学 (self-study)

More examples

私は独学だけで資格試験に合格しました。watashi wa doku gaku da ke de shi kaku shi ken ni gō kaku shi ma shi ta

I passed the certification exam through self-study alone.

Core concept

Describes learning carried out independently, without regular instruction from a teacher or school.

Common phrases

  • 独学で学ぶdoku gaku de mana bu

    learn through self-study

  • 独学を始めるdoku gaku o haji me ru

    start self-study

  • 独学を続けるdoku gaku o tsuzu ke ru

    continue self-study

Similar words

自習jishū: Studying independently, often outside a class or without direct guidance.
独習dokushū: Learning a subject on one's own without a teacher, often through books or other materials.

Definition in Japanese

学校などで教わらず、必要なことを自分で調べて学ぶこと。gak kō na do de oso wa ra zu hitsu yō na ko to o ji bun de shira be te mana bu ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 独学 (dokugaku) combines 独 (doku, "alone") and 学 (gaku, "study") to mean learning alone.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, self-study often highlights the learner's independence, while self-taught more directly describes a person who has gained a skill without formal instruction.

Related words

  • 独学者dokugakushaself-taught personnoun

Word lists with this word