Learn a subject

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How to interpret the difference between "learn a subject (topic)" and "learn about a subject (topic)"?Is there even one?Thanks

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Here are some examples of usage:

I want to learn Tai Chi. (The speaker is saying he wants to learn how to physically do Tai Chi.)

I want to learn about Tai Chi. (The speaker is saying he wants to learn about Tai Chi in an abstract, rather than physical, sense, for example: this history of the art, what is involved in learning it, what kind of people teach it, where it is taught, pitfalls in learning it, etc.)

I want to learn Java. (The speaker wants to learn how to code in Java.)

I want to learn about Java. (The speaker wants to learn about the language - rather than actual coding in it: how difficult it is to learn, background required to learn it, how long it would take to become proficient in it, origin of the language, etc.)

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