The Japanese word 私淑 (ししゅく - shishuku)

 The Japanese word 私淑 (ししゅく - shishuku) is a somewhat formal term that means to respect and admire someone as a teacher or role model, without being their direct student or having a formal teacher-student relationship with them. It implies a deep admiration for their character, achievements, or teachings, and a conscious effort to learn from them and emulate their example.

Here's a breakdown of how to use 私淑:

1. Subject of the Sentence:

• You can use 私淑 as the subject when talking about the act of admiring someone in this way.
  • 「多くの若者が彼に私淑している。」 (Ooku no wakamono ga kare ni shishuku shite iru.) - Many young people respect and admire him as a role model.
  • 「彼の生き方への私淑は、私の人生に大きな影響を与えた。」 (Kare no ikikata e no shishuku wa, watashi no jinsei ni ookina eikyou o ataeta.) - My admiration for his way of life had a great impact on my life.

2. Verb (Usually with the particle 「する」 - suru):

• You can use 私淑する (shishuku suru) as a verb meaning "to privately admire and learn from."
  • 「私は若い頃からずっと、彼の思想に私淑してきた。」 (Watashi wa wakai koro kara zutto, kare no shisou ni shishuku shite kita.) - I have privately admired and learned from his ideas since I was young.
  • 「直接教えを受けたわけではないが、私は先生の学問に対する姿勢に深く私淑している。」 (Chokusetsu oshie o uketa wake de wa nai ga, watashi wa sensei no gakumon ni taisuru shisei ni fukaku shishuku shite iru.) - Although I wasn't directly taught by him, I deeply admire and learn from the teacher's attitude towards scholarship.
  • 「彼は亡くなった偉大な作家に私淑し、その文体を研究している。」 (Kare wa nakunatta idai na sakka ni shishuku shi, sono buntai o kenkyuu shite iru.) - He privately admires the deceased great writer and studies their writing style.

3. Object of a Verb (Less Common, often with particles like 「を」 - o or 「に」 - ni):

• While less direct, you might see 私淑 used as the object of a verb implying influence or learning.
  • 「私は彼の著作を通して、彼の精神に私淑の念を抱いた。」 (Watashi wa kare no chosaku o tooshite, kare no seishin ni shishuku no nen o idaita.) - Through his writings, I developed a feeling of private admiration for his spirit. (Here, 私淑の念 - shishuku no nen - means "a feeling of private admiration.")
  • 「彼女は歴史上の偉人に私淑し、その行動規範を学んでいる。」 (Kanojo wa rekishijou no ijin ni shishuku shi, sono koudou kihan o manande iru.) - She privately admires historical figures and learns their code of conduct. (Here, 私淑している - shishuku shite iru - functions more like a state of being that leads to learning.)

Nuances and Key Points:

• No Direct Instruction: The core meaning is admiration and learning without a formal teacher-student relationship. This distinguishes it from 師事 (しし - shishi), which means to study under someone directly.
• Respect and Emulation: It implies a deep respect for the person and a conscious effort to learn from their example, principles, or works.
• Formal Tone: 私淑 is a relatively formal word and is often used in written language or more serious conversations. In casual conversation, you might use phrases like 「尊敬している」 (sonkei shite iru - I respect them) or 「憧れている」 (akogarete iru - I admire/long for them) more often.
• Focus on Character or Principles: The admiration often stems from the person's character, philosophy, achievements, or the principles they embody.

In summary, use 私淑 (or 私淑する) when you want to express a deep, respectful admiration for someone from whom you learn and whose example you follow, without being their formal student. Remember the nuance of the lack of direct instruction.