(おそ)わる

おそわる
verb (godan)
to be taught, to learn from
See also: (おし)える (transitive)
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present(おそ)わる(おそ)わらない
Present polite(おそ)わります(おそ)わりません
Past(おそ)わった(おそ)わらなかった
Past polite(おそ)わりました(おそ)わりませんでした
て form(おそ)わって(おそ)わらなくて
ている present(おそ)わっている(おそ)わっていない
ている polite(おそ)わっています(おそ)わっていません
ている past(おそ)わっていた(おそ)わっていなかった
ている past polite(おそ)わっていました(おそ)わっていませんでした
Conditional ば(おそ)われば(おそ)わらなければ
Conditional たら(おそ)わったら(おそ)わらなかったら
Volitional(おそ)わろう
Volitional polite(おそ)わりましょう
Potential(おそ)われる(おそ)われない
Passive(おそ)わられる(おそ)わられない
Causative(おそ)わらせる(おそ)わらせない
Imperative(おそ)われ(おそ)わるな
1. to be taught, to learn from
To receive instruction or knowledge from someone.
I was taught Japanese by my teacher.
I learn cooking from my mother.
(かれ)から(おお)くのこと(おそ)わった。
I learned many things from him.
I learned how to play guitar from a friend.
I still remember being taught knitting by my grandmother when I was a child.

(おそ)わる is an intransitive godan verb meaning 'to be taught' or 'to learn from someone.'

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive)
  • Pair: (おし)える (transitive, to teach)

PATTERN:
[person]に [subject]を (おそ)わる = to learn [subject] from [person]

EXAMPLES:

  • 先生(せんせい)日本語(にほんご)(おそ)わる: to learn Japanese from a teacher
  • (はは)料理(りょうり)(おそ)わった: I learned cooking from my mother
  • (かれ)から(おお)くを(おそ)わった: I learned a lot from him

CONTRAST WITH (なら)う:

  • (おそ)わる emphasizes receiving instruction from someone
  • (なら)う is more general 'to learn/take lessons'

Both use the pattern [person]に...を, but (おそ)わる highlights the teaching relationship.

ASPECT (ている):

  • (おそ)わっている: is currently being taught / has been taught (by someone) (ongoing or experiential)
  • Note: (おそ)わっている can describe either an ongoing learning relationship (田中(たなか)先生(せんせい)数学(すうがく)(おそ)わっている = "I am being taught math by Tanaka") or a habitual attendance at lessons. For a one-time past instance of learning something, use the plain past (おそ)わった.