Translation guide
The act of studying on one's own, without a teacher or formal class.
Describing the general practice of studying independently.
The most common and natural word for self-study. It implies learning without formal instruction.
He studied Japanese through self-study.
A more general phrase meaning 'to study by oneself'. It can be used in various contexts.
I self-study every day.
A more formal or literary term for self-study, often used in written contexts.
I'm looking for self-study materials.
Referring to books, courses, or tools designed for independent learning.
Emphasizing the method or approach of learning independently.
独学 is a noun that specifically means self-study without a teacher. 自分で勉強する is a verb phrase that simply means 'to study by oneself' and can be used more broadly, including for homework or review.
The direct translation '自己研究' (jiko kenkyū) is not used for self-study; it means 'self-research' and sounds unnatural in this context.
It's important to develop a habit of self-study.