How to Learn Anything Faster: The Feynman Technique Explained

Richard Feynman was one of the smartest physicists who ever lived. He won a Nobel Prize, worked on the atomic bomb, and was famous for being able to explain incredibly complex physics concepts in ways that anyone could understand.

His secret? He had a simple rule: If you can't explain something in simple terms, you don't really understand it.

This became known as the Feynman Technique, and it's one of the most powerful learning methods ever created. It works for physics, biology, history, math, coding—literally anything.

And the best part? It's so simple that you can start using it right now.

What Is the Feynman Technique?

The Feynman Technique has four steps:

Pick a concept you want to learn
Teach it to someone (or pretend to) in the simplest terms possible
Identify gaps in your explanation—places where you got stuck or had to use jargon
Go back and learn those specific parts until you can explain them simply
Simplify even more and use analogies

That's it. Four steps. But it's crazy effective.

Why It Works: The Science

Your brain has two modes of understanding:

Surface understanding: You know enough to recognize information when you see it. You can pass multiple-choice tests. But you don't really get it.

Deep understanding: You know it so well that you can explain it in your own words, answer questions about it, and apply it to new situations.

Most students stop at surface understanding. They can recognize the right answer on a test, but they can't explain why it's right.

The Feynman Technique forces you to achieve deep understanding. Here's why:

1. Teaching requires organization

When you teach something, you can't just regurgitate facts. You have to organize them in a logical way that makes sense. This process of organizing information is what creates real understanding.

2. Simplification reveals gaps

When you try to explain something without using jargon, you quickly discover what you don't actually understand. You might think you know photosynthesis, but try explaining it without using words like "chlorophyll" or "glucose." Harder than you thought, right?

3. Analogies create connections

When you create analogies to explain concepts, you're connecting new information to things you already know. That's how your brain actually remembers things—through connections.

How to Actually Do It (Step by Step)

Let's use a real example: understanding compound interest.

Step 1: Pick Your Concept

You're learning about compound interest for your economics class. You read the chapter, you took notes, you think you get it. Time to test that.

Step 2: Teach It (Out Loud)

Close your textbook and notes. Now explain compound interest to an imaginary 12-year-old.

You might start like this:

"Okay, so compound interest is when... um... you get interest on your interest? So like, if you put $100 in the bank, and they give you 10% interest, you now have $110. And then next year, they give you 10% on the $110, so you get $11 instead of $10. And it keeps growing like that..."

Not bad! But now comes the critical part.

Step 3: Identify Gaps

As you were explaining, did you:

Struggle to explain WHY it's called "compound"?
Use the word "interest" without explaining what that actually means?
Gloss over the math of how it's calculated?
Not mention how it's different from simple interest?

Write down every place you got stuck or weren't 100% confident in your explanation.

Step 4: Go Back and Learn

Now go back to your notes or textbook, but ONLY for the specific gaps you identified.

Learn what "compound" means (combining the principal and accumulated interest)
Understand the formula: A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)
Learn the difference between simple and compound interest
Find out why Einstein supposedly called it "the eighth wonder of the world"

Step 5: Simplify and Use Analogies

Now explain it again, but even simpler, with an analogy:

"Compound interest is like a snowball rolling down a hill. You start with a small snowball ($100). As it rolls, it picks up more snow (interest). But here's the cool part: the bigger the snowball gets, the more snow it picks up with each roll. So it doesn't just grow—it grows faster and faster."

"The formula A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt) basically tells you how big your snowball will be after rolling down the hill for a certain amount of time."

See the difference? You went from "I think I understand" to "I can explain this to a kid using a snowball analogy."

Real-World Examples

Let's do a few more:

Example: Photosynthesis

First attempt: "Plants use photosynthesis to make food from sunlight."

After Feynman Technique: "Plants are basically solar-powered factories. They take in sunlight (energy), water (raw material), and carbon dioxide from the air (raw material), and they manufacture sugar (fuel) that they use to grow. The byproduct is oxygen, which they release into the air. That's why forests are called 'the lungs of the Earth'—they're breathing in CO2 and breathing out oxygen."

Example: Supply and Demand

First attempt: "When supply goes down and demand stays the same, price goes up."

After Feynman Technique: "Imagine there are 10 people who want the new iPhone, but Apple only made 5 phones. Those 5 phones are going to sell for more than they normally would, because people are competing to get one. Now imagine Apple made 100 phones but still only 10 people want them. The price drops because Apple is competing to sell them. That's supply and demand—it's basically about who has more power: the buyers or the sellers."

See how much clearer the second versions are?

Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake #1: Using Jargon

If you find yourself using technical terms without explaining them, stop. Define every term in simple language.

Bad: "Mitosis is when the cell undergoes prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase." Good: "Mitosis is how one cell splits into two identical cells. It happens in four stages, like a choreographed dance..."

Mistake #2: Skipping the "Teach It Out Loud" Part

Writing is good, but speaking out loud is even better. You'll catch yourself saying "um... well... I guess..." which reveals gaps you wouldn't notice if you were just writing.

Mistake #3: Not Actually Going Back to Fill Gaps

It's tempting to gloss over the parts you don't know. Don't. Those gaps are exactly where you need to focus.

Mistake #4: Trying to Teach Too Much at Once

Break complex topics into smaller chunks. Don't try to explain all of calculus in one go. Start with derivatives, master that, then move to integrals.

The Feynman Technique in Different Subjects

For Math/Science:

Explain the concept in words, not just formulas
Use real-world examples
Draw diagrams to visualize
Explain WHY the formula works, not just how to use it

For History/Literature:

Tell the story without looking at notes
Explain cause and effect relationships
Connect events to bigger themes
Use analogies to modern situations

For Languages:

Explain grammar rules in your native language
Teach someone how to form a sentence
Explain why certain words are used in certain contexts

For Programming:

Explain what the code does in plain English
Walk through the logic step by step
Explain WHY you'd use this approach vs. another

Combining Feynman with Other Techniques

The Feynman Technique works even better when combined with other study methods:

Feynman + Active Recall: Try to explain the concept from memory first, without looking at notes.

Feynman + Spaced Repetition: Re-explain the concept to yourself after a day, then a week, then a month.

Feynman + Pomodoro: Use a 25-minute Pomodoro to learn a concept, then use the next Pomodoro to explain it.

Feynman + AI Tutor: Explain the concept to an AI (like SymbioLearn), and it will ask you questions to reveal gaps you didn't even know existed.

How SymbioLearn Uses the Feynman Technique

This is literally built into how SymbioLearn works:

You study a topic with your AI tutor
The AI asks you to explain concepts in your own words
When you struggle or use jargon, the AI asks clarifying questions
You refine your explanation until it's clear and simple
The AI tests your understanding with new questions

It's like having Feynman himself as your tutor, constantly pushing you to explain things more clearly.

The "Explain It to a 5-Year-Old" Challenge

Here's a fun way to practice: Take a concept you're studying and try to explain it to an actual 5-year-old (or imagine explaining it to one).

If a 5-year-old can understand it, you've truly mastered it.

Example: Explain gravity to a 5-year-old.

"You know how when you drop a toy, it falls down? That's because the Earth is pulling on it. The Earth is really, really big, and big things pull on smaller things. It's like the Earth is a giant magnet, but instead of pulling on metal, it pulls on everything. That's why we don't float away into space—the Earth is always pulling us down. We call that pull 'gravity.'"

The Bottom Line

The Feynman Technique comes down to one simple truth: You only truly understand something when you can explain it simply.

Most students study by reading and memorizing. They end up with surface-level understanding that falls apart under pressure.

Students who use the Feynman Technique achieve deep understanding. They can answer any question, explain things in multiple ways, and apply concepts to new situations.

Next time you study, don't just read your notes. Close the book and teach it. Talk out loud. Use analogies. Find the gaps. Fix them.

That's how you actually learn.

Try It Right Now

Pick one concept from your last class. Close your notes. Explain it out loud like you're teaching a friend. Notice where you struggle. Go back and learn those parts.

Then do it again, simpler.

Want an AI tutor that uses the Feynman Technique in every session? Try SymbioLearn and get an AI that constantly pushes you to explain things clearly, catches gaps in your understanding, and helps you achieve deep learning.

Start learning like Feynman today.

Want more powerful study techniques? Check out our guides on active recall, memory techniques, and the Pomodoro technique.