Translation guide
The English verb "teach" covers a range of actions from formal instruction to showing someone how to do something. In Japanese, different verbs and expressions are used depending on the relationship, setting, and what is being taught.
To teach a subject, skill, or knowledge in a structured setting like a school, class, or formal lesson.
The most common and versatile verb for 'teach'. Can be used for both formal instruction and informal showing. The thing being taught is marked with を, and the person taught with に.
He teaches math at a high school.
Means to guide, coach, or instruct, often in a more formal or systematic way. Used for teaching in sports, arts, or academic supervision.
The teacher supervised the student's research.
Formal term for teaching, especially at university level. Often used in academic contexts.
He teaches philosophy at the university.
To teach someone how to perform a task, use something, or do an activity, often by demonstration.
To cause someone to learn something valuable from an experience, often a moral or practical lesson.
Literally 'give a lesson/moral'. Used when an experience teaches a valuable lesson.
To instill proper behavior, etiquette, or discipline.
Specifically means to discipline, train, or teach manners to a child or pet. Focuses on behavior and upbringing.
Used when something serves as a punishment or deterrent, often in a retaliatory sense.
教える is the everyday word for teaching anything. 指導する implies coaching or guiding with authority, often in sports, arts, or academic supervision. 教授する is very formal and mostly used for university-level teaching.
When you want to say 'I'll teach him a lesson' as a threat, 教える is not appropriate. Use 思い知らせる or 目に物見せる instead.
Can you teach me Japanese?
I taught English to the children.
Again the default verb. When teaching a how-to, the method is often marked with 方 (かた) or a verb in ～方を教える.
Please teach me how to cook this dish.
I taught him how to drive.
Pattern for 'teach how to do X'. Attach 方 to the masu-stem of a verb.
Could you teach me how to use the computer?
To pass on or impart a skill, secret, or tradition. Often used for martial arts, crafts, or special knowledge.
The master taught the secret technique to his disciple.
That failure taught him an important lesson.
To teach through personal experience, often harsh. Implies learning the hard way.
Life taught me a hard lesson.
To admonish or teach someone a lesson by reasoning with them, often in a gentle but firm manner.
The mother gently taught her child a lesson.
It's a parent's responsibility to properly teach their children manners.
To drill or instill something into someone, often through repetition. Can be used for manners or knowledge.
My grandmother drilled manners into me.
To make someone realize their mistake or the consequences, often harshly. Equivalent to 'teach someone a lesson' in a punitive sense.
This time I'll teach him a lesson.
Idiomatic phrase meaning to teach someone a lesson by showing them what you can do, often with a nuance of revenge or putting them in their place.
I'll teach that guy a lesson.
My father taught me how to ride a bike.
Experience teaches us many things.