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習得する
shūtoku suru
What does "習得する" mean in English?
acquire彼女は3ヶ月で日本語を習得した。
She acquired Japanese in three months.
How to use "習得する" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
formal
To learn or master a skill, knowledge, or language through study and practice.
彼は新しいプログラミング言語を短期間で習得した。
He mastered a new programming language in a short period.
この学校では、英語を習得するためのプログラムが充実している。
This school has a well-developed program for acquiring English.
Often used in academic, professional, or formal contexts. Implies a process of systematic learning, not just casual exposure.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusing with 学ぶ (manabu)
学ぶ (manabu) implies learning through instruction or experience, often with a focus on the process itself. 習得する (shūtoku suru) emphasizes the successful outcome of mastering something, especially in a systematic way.
Gold Rule
Use 習得する for structured mastery
Use 習得する when the focus is on the result of mastering a skill or language (e.g., 'He acquired fluency in French'). For the process of learning, use 学ぶ (manabu) or 勉強する (benkyō suru).
Word Origin
From 習う (narau, 'to learn') + 得る (eru, 'to obtain'). The compound verb 習得する emerged in the Edo period (1603–1868) as a formal way to describe the process of acquiring knowledge or skills through study.
Usage Notes
Used for deliberate, structured learning (e.g., languages, technical skills). Not used for natural or passive learning (e.g., 'a child learns to walk' → 歩けるようになる). Often appears in educational, corporate, or self-improvement contexts.
Word Breakdown
習
to learn
root得
to obtain
rootする
to do (suru verb suffix)
suffix和英辞典