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I was looking at the [20 precepts of
karate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nij%C5%AB_kun) and I really like this
one:

> 空手の修業は一生である

The translation should be something like:

> Karate is a lifelong pursuit.

Looking for it on google.co.jp I've been suggested for:

> 空手の修行は一生である

Which is the difference between the two kanji? Is the meaning correct (and the
same)?

PS:  
Sorry but I don't have any knowledge of the language, not sure about the tags
or if the question is even "correct"!
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word-choice usage kanji
Which is the difference of meaning beetween 業 and 行?
I am a novice in this language, but i can say that, basically:

  * 業 means "act" or "deed"
  * 行 means "to go" or simply "go"

So, depending on the context/the way the phrase is formed, it could be used
interchangeably.

Any more experienced can correct me if im wrong.
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From what I can see on jisho.org:  
修業{しゅうぎょう} is `pursuit of knowledge; studying; learning; training; completing
a course`  
修行{しゅぎょう} is `training; practice; discipline; study`.

From the definitions I would imagine that no, they are don't mean the exact
same thing on their own, but perhaps in context as Erakk said, they might be
able to be used interchangeably.

That being said, in the context of the precept, I would say that the former
applies more closely. At least from my understanding of doctrines in English,
something like this would be similar to saying that one is always a student,
so to say it is a lifelong pursuit of mastery (knowledge/understanding). The
latter seems to fit better for something that isn't necessarily lifelong.

In addition I would say that whichever you use would be understood, and
perhaps the latter is a contemporary version.

If there's someone who disagrees with or has something to add to/revise my
interpretation _please_ make a comment, I'd like feedback.
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The word 修業 is used for something you can complete/graduate/master. This is
why we use 卒業 to express a graduation from something. I think we never use 卒行
in this situation. At least I have never seen 卒行 in my life.

On the other hand, the word 修行 is used for something you can not complete.

Thus, when you say

> Karate is a lifelong pursuit.

修行 does fit well because it's a lifelong one.

* * *

Unfortunately, the reason why Gichin Funakoshi used 修業 in his Nijū kun is not
known well. Might be he wanted to emphasize the technical aspect of Karate you
can master (instead of the mental aspect). [1]

[1]
<http://dspace.lib.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2297/11817/1/AA11546136-11-bittmann.pdf>
(Japanese)
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修行 is primarily used for (endless/lifelong) **religious** discipline; it's
something Buddhist monks or priests do every day. Note that this kanji 行 (
_gyō_ ) on its own means 'religious training/discipline/practice', as in 行者 (
_gyōja_ , person who does 修行, especially that of
[修験道](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shugend%C5%8D)),
[滝行](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%BB%9D%E8%A1%8C) ( _takigyō_ , waterfall
meditation), 苦行 ( _kugyō_ , hard discipline), etc. You can also use 修行 with
various kinds of Japanese traditional martial arts, such as _judo_ or _karate_
, where similar mental discipline is important.

修業 ( _shugyō_ ) is more secular and refers to '(professional) training' in
general. 訓練 ( _kunren_ ) is the formal and normal word for this, but 修業 is
also used in casual settings. 修業 is usually used for something one can
eventually master. 修業 is something you do when you want to become a chef,
physician, pilot, lawyer, and so on. One interesting phrase is 花嫁修業 (
_hanayome shugyō_ , "bridal training"), which refers to learning
cooking/housekeeping/etc before getting married.

That said, I think many people are not very strict on this difference, and use
these words interchangeably. In your example, 空手の修業 and 空手の修行 are both
natural, but 空手の修行 looks a bit nicer to me, especially when it refers to the
lifelong discipline.

By the way 修業 has another reading, しゅうぎょう ( _sh **ū** gyō_). If 修業 is read
this way, it mainly means 'to finish [a course at school]'.

Reference (in Japanese):

  * [修行](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BF%AE%E8%A1%8C) in Wikipedia
  * [意外と間違う、｢修行｣と｢修業｣の使い分け](http://ameblo.jp/kijisakusei/entry-11058644430.html)
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I don't know exactly _why_ 船越義珍 used 修業 since 修行 would also make sense. But
since he did, I think the quote should only be considered correct the way you
stated it:

> 空手の **修業** は一生である。

Firstly, since you probably don't know, 修 is often pronounced しゅう ( _shū_ ,
long U), but in both 修業 and 修行, it may be pronounced しゅ ( _shu_ , short U), so
there are three words, しゅぎょう (修業 or 修行) and しゅうぎょう (修業), which all have their
own entries. (So for the record, at the bottom are the entries in the J-J
dictionary 大辞林 _Daijirin_.)

修行 has a strong connotation with training/discipline in the "spiritual
practice" ( _sādhāna_ ) sense (see sense ③ below). 修業 on the other hand has a
more "down-to-earth" connotation of studying/learning. But as its
supplementary explanation says,

> Still, sometimes 修行 is used with almost the same meaning as 修業.

Anyway, with the sentence at hand, it seems like

> Karate is a lifelong pursuit.

is a good translation. (Using 修行, it would sound more like "Karate is a
lifelong spiritual practice.")

I find it curious that in spite of Funakoshi's philosophical inclinations, he
chose 修業. Maybe he indeed meant to focus on the down-to-earth day-to-day
practical aspects of training. Or maybe he didn't and chose 修業 as an
alternative spelling of 修行, to avoid the strong association with Buddhism. Or
maybe he just didn't have any particular reason for choosing one over the
other.

* * *

> **しゅ ぎょう** —げふ [0] 【修業】  
>  (名) スル
>
>
> 学問・技芸などをならい修めること。しゅうぎょう。「師について—する」〔同音語の「修行」は仏道に励むことを主にいうが、それに対して「修業」は学問・技芸などをならい身につけることをいう。なお「修行」は「修業」とほぼ同等の意で用いられる場合もある〕
>
> * * *
>
> **しゅう ぎょう** しうげふ [0] 【修業】  
>  (名) スル
>
> 学問や技芸などを習って身につけること。しゅぎょう。
>
> * * *
>
> **しゅ ぎょう** —ぎやう [0] 【修行】  
>  (名) スル
>
> ① 学問や技芸・武術などに励み、それをみがくこと。「—を積む」「武者—」
>
> ② 生理的欲求を禁じて精神および肉体を鍛錬することにより、精神の浄化や神的存在との合一を得ようとする宗教的行為。
>
> ③ 《仏》戒律を守ったり、悟りを開くために特定の宗教的行為を行なって、仏の教えを実践すること。仏道に励むこと。→修業(補説欄)
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