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.
彼は高校で数学を教えています。
He teaches math at a high school.
私は子供たちに英語を教えた。
I taught English to the children.
Means to guide, coach, or instruct, often in a more formal or systematic way. Used for teaching in sports, arts, or academic supervision.
先生は生徒の研究を指導した。
The teacher supervised the student's research.
Formal term for teaching, especially at university level. Often used in academic contexts.
彼は大学で哲学を教授している。
He teaches philosophy at the university.
To teach someone how to perform a task, use something, or do an activity, often by demonstration.
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.
料理の作り方を教えてください。
Please teach me how to cook this dish.
彼に車の運転を教えた。
I taught him how to drive.
Pattern for 'teach how to do X'. Attach 方 to the masu-stem of a verb.
パソコンの使い方を教えてもらえますか？
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.
師匠が秘伝の技を弟子に伝授した。
The master taught the secret technique to his disciple.
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.
その失敗は彼に大切な教訓を与えた。
That failure taught him an important lesson.
To teach through personal experience, often harsh. Implies learning the hard way.
人生が身にしみて教えてくれた。
Life taught me a hard lesson.
To admonish or teach someone a lesson by reasoning with them, often in a gentle but firm manner.
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.
子供をきちんと躾けるのは親の責任だ。
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.
Used when something serves as a punishment or deterrent, often in a retaliatory sense.
To make someone realize their mistake or the consequences, often harshly. Equivalent to 'teach someone a lesson' in a punitive sense.
今度という今度は思い知らせてやる。
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.
あいつには目に物見せてやる。
I'll teach that guy a lesson.
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.
日本語を教えてもらえますか？
Can you teach me Japanese?
父が自転車の乗り方を教えてくれた。
My father taught me how to ride a bike.
経験は多くのことを教えてくれる。
Experience teaches us many things.
The mother gently taught her child a lesson.
祖母は私に礼儀を教え込んだ。
My grandmother drilled manners into me.