Usage note
自学表示自己学习，不完全依赖老师。
zì xué biǎo shì zì jǐ xué xí， bù wán quán yī lài lǎo shī。
自学 means to learn by oneself, without fully depending on a teacher.
Context note
自学常用于语言、技能和长期学习。
zì xué cháng yòng yú yǔ yán 、 jì néng hé cháng qī xué xí。
It is often used for languages, skills, and long-term learning.
5 examples
他在自学中文。
tā zài zì xué zhōng wén。
He is self-studying Chinese.
自学需要坚持。
zì xué xū yào jiān chí。
Self-study requires persistence.
她很会自学。
tā hěn huì zì xué。
She is very good at self-study.
这个软件可以帮助自学。
zhè ge ruǎn jiàn kě yǐ bāng zhù zì xué。
This software can help with self-study.
我想自学画画。
wǒ xiǎng zì xué huà huà。
I want to teach myself drawing.
5 mini stories
哥哥靠自学学会了弹吉他。
gē ge kào zì xué xué huì le tán jí tā。
My older brother taught himself to play guitar.
她每天都花一个小时自学。
tā měi tiān dōu huā yí gè xiǎo shí zì xué。
She spends one hour every day studying on her own.
自学虽然难，但很有成就感。
zì xué suī rán nán， dàn hěn yǒu chéng jiù gǎn。
Self-study is hard, but very rewarding.
老师说自学也是一种能力。
lǎo shī shuō zì xué yě shì yì zhǒng néng lì。
The teacher said self-study is also a skill.
他通过自学提高了中文水平。
tā tōng guò zì xué tí gāo le zhōng wén shuǐ píng。
He improved his Chinese through self-study.
Mini dialogue
学习新技能
A
你的吉他弹得真好，是老师教的吗？
Nǐ de jítā tán de zhēn hǎo, shì lǎoshī jiāo de ma?
You play the guitar so well. Did a teacher teach you?
B
不是，我是在网上自学的。
Bù shì, wǒ shì zài wǎngshàng zìxué de.
No, I taught myself online.
暑假计划
A
这个暑假你有什么计划？
Zhège shǔjià nǐ yǒu shénme jìhuà?
What are your plans for this summer vacation?
B
我想自学编程，做一个小游戏。
Wǒ xiǎng zìxué biānchéng, zuò yī gè xiǎo yóuxì.
I want to teach myself programming and make a small game.
Related words and contrasts
similar
自己学
zì jǐ xué
learn by oneself
自学 means to 自己学 without a teacher.
contrast
上课
shàng kè
attend class
自学 is learning alone; 上课 is learning with a teacher in class.