I've heard two variants, 東学 and アジア研究. Is there any difference between them?
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-26T10:19:56.803
66260
2020-01-06T06:06:02.753
2019-03-27T14:15:55.860
9831
33450
question
word-choice
What is the better way to say 'Asian Studies'?
東学【とうがく】 may literally mean "Eastern Studies", but in actual usage, it refers
specifically to _Donghak_ , a movement in Korea that started in 1860. The
[English Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donghak) describes
it as "an academic movement", whereas the [Japanese Wikipedia
article](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%B1%E5%AD%A6) calls it a
新宗教【しんしゅうきょう】 or "new religion".

Meanwhile, アジア研究【けんきゅう】 just literally means "Asia(n) research / Asia(n)
stud(y|ies)".

So unless you really want to confuse the heck out of people, don't use the
term 東学 to refer to "Asian Studies".
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-26T15:38:58.040
66264
2019-03-27T14:16:17.687
2019-03-27T14:16:17.687
9831
5229
66260
answer
There are differences between 学{がく} and 研究{けんきゅう} that may help to understand
how these are used.

学{がく} is used for an academic field of study or a class in school or
university. For example, 生物{せいぶつ}学{がく} is "biology" and 学{がく}生{せい} is
"student". In this respect 学{がく} is used like "-ology" to mark a field of
study or expertise (but more broadly than in English1). A field marked with
学{がく} can be taught or learned (so it uses the same kanji as "learning"
学{まな}ぶ).

研究{けんきゅう} is used for research such as academic research and graduate studies.
For example, 生物{せいぶつ}研究{けんきゅう} is a "biological research" and 研究{けんきゅう}者{しゃ}
is a "researcher". This cannot be taught but is the subject of a study or
investigation (or doing "research" 研究{けんきゅう}する).

In this respect, アジア学{がく} or アジア研究{けんきゅう} both mean "Asia studies" (the study
of and research of Asia2 respectively). However, these are both very vague so
"I'm studying Asia" would only be understood in the context of people already
knowing what you study (culture, wildlife, business, etc). It would be
recommended to be more specific, for example:

アジア文科{ぶんか} or アジア文{ぶん}学{がく} for Asian literature

アジア文化{ぶんか}研究{けんきゅう} for research of Asian culture

アジア人類{じんるい}学{がく} for study of Asian anthropology

You should not use 東{とう}学{がく} in this context as it has a different meaning3.

* * *

Note 1. My expertise is in the STEM fields so I may have terminology of the
Humanities wrong. However, any fields of study or research can be described
with 学{がく} and 研究{けんきゅう}.

Note 2. Japan does not view itself as part of (mainland) Asia in many
contexts, アジア is often used to refer developing countries in South East Asia
in Japanese. China, Korea, or India would normally be specified.

Note 3. 東{とう}学{がく} literally means "study of the East" but is not a field of
study. It's a religious movement based in Korea, similar to how western
religions use terminology for learning such as "scientology" or
"enlightenment".
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-27T09:10:09.397
66278
2020-01-06T06:06:02.753
2020-01-06T06:06:02.753
14608
14608
66260
answer