teach

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 教 has 11 strokes and the on-reading きょう. 教える (おしえる) means to teach or tell; 教わる (おそわる) means to be taught.
• Basic usage: The words view learning from the teacher's or learner's side. 教える also covers providing information such as directions.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Teaching and learning from someone
  • 先生が漢字の書き順を教えてくれた means that the teacher taught the kanji's stroke order. 近道を教えてください asks someone to explain a shortcut.
  • 基本を教わった means learning the basics; 教わった is the past form of 教わる. 祖父から and 詳しい人に identify the person teaching.