homework in japanese

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May 28, 2022 By Masaki Mori Leave a Comment

Shukudai is the Japanese word for ‘homework’, explained

What does “shukudai” mean in japanese.

Native speakers use shukudai to mean ‘homework’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand shukudai more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Definition and meaning of “shukudai”

How to say “homework” in japanese, another example of “shukudai”.

Let me start with the definition and meaning of shukudai .

• shukudai – 宿題 (しゅくだい) : a noun meaning ‘homework’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this noun to refer to a task or tasks to do at home after school. So, the usage is very similar to that of the English noun, homework , I think.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.

Shukudai in kanji

The kanji expression of shukudai consists of the following two kanji characters:

• 宿 : a kanji character used to refer to a place where people stay.
• 題 : a kanji character used to mean a ‘theme’, ‘subject’, ‘question’, or ‘problem’ in Japanese.

From these two kanji characters, we can understand that shukudai literally means ‘a place where people stay and questions’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meaning, but still understandable, I think. Homework is often a set of questions which people need to solve at home.

When we meet new kanji expressions, we should check their kanji characters in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji characters tell us a lot about the meanings of the expressions they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of shukudai through the detailed kanji check above.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of shukudai together with its kanji characters. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.

kyou wa shukudai ga takusan aru – 今日は宿題がたくさんある (きょうはしゅくだいがたくさんある) Today, I have a lot of homework.

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works as a topic marker after kyou to put a focus on it.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after shukudai to make the subject in the sentence.
• takusan – たくさん : an adverb of quantity meaning ‘many’, ‘much’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works to emphasize the amount of the homework.
• aru – ある : a verb meaning ‘to be’, ‘to exist’, ‘to present’, or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of shukudai . In this example, it works as a part of the commonly-used phrase, shukudai ga aru , which literally means ‘homework exists’ in Japanese. This phrase is often translated into English as ‘to have homework’, though.

boku wa shukudai wo katazuke mashi ta – 僕は宿題を片付けました (ぼくはしゅくだいをかたづけました) I finished my homework.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after shukudai to make the object in the sentence.
• katazuke – 片付け (かたづけ) : one conjugation of the verb, katazukeru , which means ‘to clean’, ‘to clear’, ‘to finish’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• mashi – まし : one conjugation of the auxiliary verb, masu , which is used after a verb to make it polite. In the example, this is used after katazuke to make it sound polite.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form. In the example, this is used at the end of the verb phrase to mean ‘to have finished’ in Japanese.

This is another example of shukudai . In this example, it works together with the case particle, wo , to become the object in the sentence. When we want to mean ‘homework’ in Japanese, anyway, this noun is always a very good option.

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of shukudai in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• shukudai – 宿題 (しゅくだい) : a noun meaning ‘homework’ in Japanese. Native speakers use this noun to refer to a task or tasks to do at home after school. So, the usage of this noun is very similar to that of the English one, homework . These two kanji characters literally mean ‘a place where people stay and questions’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meaning, but still understandable, I think. Homework is often a set of questions which people need to solve at home.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.

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Learn How to Say Homework in Japanese

In this article, you will learn how to say “homework” in Japanese, along with its meaning, pronunciation, equivalent words, and cultural usage. Whether you are studying Japanese or need to communicate about your study tasks with Japanese speakers, knowing the appropriate term is essential. Let’s dive in!

The Japanese Term for Homework

In Japanese, the term for homework is “syukudai”（宿題）. This word is used to describe the assignments or tasks given to students that are meant to be completed outside of school. Whether you are learning Japanese or need to communicate about your study tasks with Japanese speakers, it is important to familiarize yourself with this term. Remember to pronounce it as “syukudai” to ensure clear and accurate communication.

Understanding the term “syukudai” will greatly assist you in your Japanese language journey or when interacting with Japanese speakers regarding study-related tasks. Embrace this fundamental word to enhance your communication skills.

How to Say Homework in Japanese

To say “homework” in Japanese, you can use the word “syukudai”（しゅくだい＝宿題）. This term is a direct translation of the English word and can be easily understood by native Japanese speakers. When pronouncing “syukudai,” remember to emphasize the second syllable, “ku.” This will help you communicate the word clearly and accurately.

If you’re wondering how to spell “homework” in Japanese, it is written as “しゅくだい” or “宿題”. Learning how to say and spell “homework” in different languages can be beneficial, especially if you’re studying a foreign language or planning to travel to a country where Japanese is spoken.

Here is a table summarizing the different ways to express “homework” in Japanese:

Knowing these translations can be useful when discussing different subjects or types of assignments with Japanese speakers. Remember to replace the subject of the homework with the appropriate word, such as math, English, science, or history, to specify the type of assignment.

Other Ways to Express Homework in Japanese

While the most common word for homework in Japanese is “syukudai”（宿題）, there are other phrases that can be used to express this concept. These alternative phrases can be used interchangeably with “syukudai” depending on the context and level of formality.

Here are two other phrases commonly used to refer to homework in Japanese:

These phrases provide additional options for expressing the concept of homework in Japanese. Depending on the situation, you can choose to use “syukudai,” “gakushu no jimu,” or “gakushu shido” to convey the idea of homework effectively in the Japanese language.

Common Examples of Homework in Japanese

When it comes to expressing different types of homework in Japanese, there are several common examples that can be useful to know. Here are a few:

• Math homework: In Japanese, you would say “suugaku no syukudai”（数学の宿題）.
• English homework: The term for English homework is “eigo no syukudai”（英語の宿題）.
• Science homework: To refer to science homework, you would say “rika no syukudai”（理科の宿題）.
• History homework: The term for history homework is “rekishi no syukudai”（歴史の宿題）.

Remember to replace the subject of the homework with the appropriate word, such as math, English, science, or history, to specify the type of assignment. With these examples, you will be better equipped to communicate about specific homework assignments when speaking Japanese.

What is the Japanese word for homework?

How do you say homework in japanese, are there other ways to express homework in japanese, can you provide some examples of how to express different types of homework in japanese, leave a comment cancel reply.

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What is the translation of "homework" in Japanese?

"homework" in japanese, homework {noun}, homeworking scheme {noun}, translations, monolingual examples, english how to use "homework" in a sentence.

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Synonyms (English) for "homework":

• preparation
• homeroom activities
• homeroom teacher
• homesickness
• homestretch
• homeward voyage or flight
• homeworking scheme
• homicidal maniac
• homicide department
• homing instinct
• homing torpedo
• homochromatic

Translations into more languages in the bab.la Spanish-English dictionary .

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How to write "Homework" in Japanese

If you are wondering how to write "Homework" in Japanese you've come to the right place!

"Homework" is written in Japanese as " 宿題 " and you can read it as " Shukudai ".

Click the button below to download a free printable handwriting practice worksheet with gridlines and stroke order for correct and beautiful handwriting of Japanese characters.

This word is made up of 2 Kanji :

The kanji "宿" means "Lodging" and consists of 11 strokes. And The kanji "題" means "Topic" and consists of 18 strokes.

For a more detailed explanation about the meaning of this word you can visit this page: How to say "Homework" in Japanese

How to Say Homework in Japanese Hiragana

Learning a new language involves not only memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules but also understanding various aspects of its culture. As you dive into the Japanese language, it’s important to acquire everyday vocabulary that includes terms like “homework.” In Japanese, the word for homework can be expressed using hiragana, one of the three main scripts used in writing. This guide will provide you with the formal and informal ways to say homework in Japanese and offer several tips and examples to assist your learning journey.

1. The Formal Way: 宿題 (しゅくだい)

In formal situations, such as when talking to your teachers or superiors, the appropriate term for homework in Japanese is “宿題” (しゅくだい). This word is written using kanji characters but can also be expressed in hiragana as “しゅくだい.” The pronunciation remains the same, but it emphasizes the formal and polite context.

Example: 先生、宿題を提出しました。(Sensei, shukudai o teishutsu shimashita.) Translation: Teacher, I have submitted my homework.

2. The Informal Way: テスト (てすと)

In informal and casual conversations with friends or peers, the Japanese language often adopts loanwords from English. In this context, the word “homework” is commonly replaced with the borrowed term “テスト” (てすと), which directly translates to “test” in English but is used more broadly to refer to homework as well.

Example: 明日、てすとがたくさんあるよ。(Ashita, tesuto ga takusan aru yo.) Translation: I have a lot of homework tomorrow.

These informal expressions can be used comfortably among friends or when in casual settings, but it’s essential to be mindful of your audience and the level of politeness required in the given situation.

3. Additional Regional Variations

In addition to the formal and informal ways mentioned above, regional variations exist within Japan. While these may not typically be used in everyday conversation, it’s useful to be aware of them to deepen your understanding of the language’s diversity. Here are a few regional variations for the word homework:

• 関東 (かんとう) Variation: テツド (てつど) This variation is used in the Kanto region, which includes major cities like Tokyo. The pronunciation “テツド” represents the word “宿題” (しゅくだい) in hiragana form.
• 九州 (きゅうしゅう) Variation: モド (もど) People in the Kyushu region, located in southwestern Japan, may use the term “モド” (もど) for homework instead of the more standard expressions.

4. Tips for Learning Vocabulary

Building vocabulary skills is crucial when learning any language, including Japanese. Here are some tips to help you effectively learn and reinforce new words:

• Create Flashcards: Write the Japanese term for homework on one side of the flashcard and its English translation on the other. Test yourself regularly to enhance memorization.
• Use Mnemonics: Conjure up mental images or associate the word “しゅくだい” or other variations with something memorable. For example, you could imagine a school bus that transports homework instead of students.
• Practice with Native Speakers: Engage in language exchange programs or find Japanese language partners to practice speaking and using new vocabulary in conversations.
• Immerse Yourself: Surround yourself with Japanese media, such as anime or dramas, and actively listen for vocabulary in context. This exposure helps reinforce your understanding of how words are used.

Congratulations on taking the initiative to learn how to say “homework” in Japanese using hiragana! Remember that “宿題” (しゅくだい) is the formal term, while “テスト” (てすと) represents the more informal way to refer to homework, even though it directly translates to “test” in English. Be mindful of the context and level of politeness required in various situations.

Additionally, knowing regional variations, such as the Kanto region’s “テツド” (てつど) and the Kyushu region’s “モド” (もど), can deepen your understanding of the language’s diversity.

Remember to employ effective vocabulary learning techniques, such as flashcards, mnemonics, conversation practice, and language immersion, to reinforce new words and concepts effectively.

Enjoy your journey of learning the Japanese language and discovering its rich cultural heritage!

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The South Indian phrase - “ninnade kaNugalu tuppuko.” is wrong. “tuppuko” is not a word in kannada. Informally, we’d say…

Good luck Gracie Wren on your first London marathon . Your dedication and hard work will pay off.

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Common Japanese Words and Phrases Used in Classroom

The language used in a classroom setting will differ depending on whether you are a student or teacher, and whether you are talking to other students or teachers. To sort this all out, let’s first go over the basics. What do I call my teacher? How do I ask questions during the class? How do I reply during the roll call? By going through the common vocabulary and phrases first, you will be able to then modify and arrange them to communicate smoothly with your peers and teachers.

Whether you’re studying in a Japanese language school as a foreign student, taking Japanese group lessons online or in-person, or teaching in a Japanese school, we will help nail down key Japanese vocabulary and phrases for the classroom. 

Essential Japanese Vocabulary Related to School: Classroom, Teacher, and Student in Japanese

Before we go into the common Japanese phrases used in a class, let’s take a look at what class and classroom are in Japanese. You may be familiar with jugyou (授業), kyoushitsu (教室), sensei (先生), and gakusei (学生), the general terms for the lesson, classroom, teacher, and student in Japanese, but other terms may be used depending on the circumstance.

Jugyou (授業) is an umbrella term for the lesson and refers to any format of the lesson where students learn from teachers. It is commonly used in high school and below, as well as language schools, but can be used for any lesson in an educational institution. Kougi (講義), which is the term for a lecture in Japanese, is a specific type of jugyou where teachers talk in front of a group of students at their desks. It is commonly used in universities or other tertiary educational institutions, This can also be referred to as zagaku (座学), which basically means education received while sitting at a desk.

Kyoushitsu (教室) is the general term for classrooms and is the most common one used in any setting. However, those in universities or other tertiary education may also hear the term kougishitsu (講義室), meaning lecture hall.

Sensei (先生) is the most common way to refer to any teacher of any kind, in schools, other academic institutions, and even extracurricular activities. Until high school, the terms kyouin (教員) and kyoushi (教師), which both mean teacher, are commonly used to refer to a teaching position or title. On the other hand, teachers in universities will have different titles depending on their rank, such as koushi (講師), junkyouju (准教授), and kyouju (教授), which mean lecturer, associate professor, and professor respectively. In all cases, sensei (先生) is still the most common and appropriate way to refer to educators, but knowing the different classifications will come in handy especially if you are a university student or are teaching in Japan.

Students are generally referred to as one of the following: gakusei (学生) or seito (生徒). In legal terms, the former is used for students receiving higher education such as in universities or vocational schools, whereas the latter is used for junior high to high school students. The two are used interchangeably in daily conversation, however, there is a tendency to use gakusei (学生) when talking about students generally, and seito (生徒) when talking about students of a specific institution or under a specific teacher.

Japanese Expressions for Greeting in a Class 

As with all other interactions, classes start and end with greetings. Students may greet each other formally in keigo (敬語) or informally in tameguchi (タメ口), but interactions between students and teachers are almost always in keigo (敬語).

At the start of the class, the sensei (先生) usually greets students using the greeting appropriate for the time of the day, with either ohayougozaimasu (おはようございます): good morning, konnichiwa (こんにちは): hello, or konbanwa (こんばんは): good evening. Some may even follow this with yoroshikuonegaishimasu (よろしくお願いします), which is loosely translated to ‘please treat me favorably’ in English. Check out our guide on basic Japanese greetings and phrases.

The class usually ends with arigatougozaimashita (ありがとうございました) to thank the students, and sometimes with otsukare sama deshita (お疲れ様でした) to acknowledge the students’ hard work during the class. Some teachers may also use goseichou arigatougozaimashita (ご清聴ありがとうございました), which takes a step further to thank students for listening quietly. This phrase is often used after presentations by students as well.

Japanese Phrases in Classroom for Taking Attendance

Attendance is shusseki (出席) in Japanese, with its kanji meaning to be in your seat. Therefore the Japanese for absence is kesseki (欠席), to be absent from your seat. Depending on the school, teachers may take attendance through roll calls, paper slips, or online.

A roll call, called tenko (点呼) in Japanese, but typically, the teacher will usually proceed in the following way:

出席を取ります。Aさん。 Shusseki o torimasu. A-san. I will be taking roll call (attendance). A-san.

If Person A is present, they would simply respond by saying yes with hai (はい). This will repeat until everyone is called. If you will be absent, it’s best to notify the teacher or staff by email beforehand for it to be an excused absence or kounin kesseki (公認欠席). Unexcused absences, or mudan kesseki (無断欠席), are commonly frowned upon and may even lead to consequences. Here is an example of how to notify your absence through email.

​​件名：本日の（授業名）を欠席します（名前） kenmei : honjitsu no (jugyoumei) o kesseki shimasu (namae) Subject : I will be absent from today’s (class name) (name)

〇〇先生 〇〇sensei   〇〇 teacher

お世話になっております。 osewa ni natte orimasu. *Loosely translated to Thank you for your assistance.

(名前と学籍番号）と申します。 (namae to gakuseki bangou) to moushimasu. I am (name and student number)

昨日から熱があるので、本日の（授業名）は欠席させていただきたいと思います。 kinou kara netsu ga aru node, honjitsu no (jugyoumei) wa kesseki sasete itadakitai to omoimasu. I’ve had a fever since yesterday, so I would like to be absent from today’s class.

本日の課題を後日取りにうかがってもよろしいでしょうか。 honjitsu no kadai o gojitsu torini ukagattemo yoroshiideshouka. May I pick up my assignment for today’s class at a later date?

よろしくお願いします。 yoroshiku onegaishimasu. *Loosely translated to thank you in advance.

（名前と学籍番号） (namae to gakuseki bangou) (name and student number)

Interestingly, there is a term for faking someone’s attendance in Japanese, called daihen (代返). It comes from 代 わりに 返 事する (kawarini henji suru) , meaning to respond in place of someone else during roll call. This is strongly prohibited in all schools, so be careful not to do this!

Japanese Phrases in Classroom: Listening to Instructions

Apart from sitting and listening to your teacher’s jugyou (授業), you may have other tasks to complete such as answering questions or solving a quiz, reading something for the class, or having class discussions. In these cases, you will most likely hear the command for the task in a Verb ~て + ください (verb ~te + kudasai) form.

For example:

答えてください kotaete kudasai Please answer.

解答してください kaitoushite kudasai. Please answer. (Used in written form)

話し合ってください hanashiatte kudasai. Please discuss.

読んでください yonde kudasai.   Please read.

手を挙げて Te o agete. Please raise your hand.

Your teacher usually instructs the last example in the class. If you want to say or ask anything, we should avoid disrupting the flow of the lesson. Raising your hand allows the teacher to decide if it’s the best time to address your concern in the class at the moment.

Take a look at this blog post to learn other ways kudasai (ください) is used , and this blog post for how to conjugate verbs into the ~te (~て) form.

How to Ask Questions in a Class in Japanese

Some teachers prefer students to ask questions during class, but others may prefer for students to ask all their questions at the end of the lesson. If you have a question during class, raise your hand and ask your question! Teachers may also ask:

ここまで何か質問はありますか？ kokomade nanika shitsumon wa arimasuka? Are there any questions so far?

Outside of class, students can find the opportunity to talk to the teacher in the time between classes called jugyou no aima (授業の合間), or during office hours, or ofisu awa a (オフィスアワー). When you go up to the teacher, here are some examples of how you can start the conversation:

〇〇先生、今お時間よろしいでしょうか？ 〇〇sensei, ima ojikan yoroshii deshouka? Teacher 〇〇, may I have a moment?

本日の授業について質問があります。 honjitsu no jugyou ni tsuite shitsumon ga arimasu. I have a question about today’s class.

Japanese Phrases in Classroom: Homework and Assignments in Japanese

Although many may dread the idea of homework, it’s a must-know when learning Japanese in the classroom. Assignments including homework are called kadai (課題), which can also mean ‘issue that needs to be solved’. The word to use for homework specifically is shukudai (宿題), with its kanji referring literally to work that is completed at home.

Teachers will also provide students with information about submission or teishutsu (提出), including the due date, which is kigen (期限) or shimekiri (締め切り). 

Let’s put all the vocabulary together in some example sentences:

宿題を出します。 shukudai o dashimasu. I will be giving out homework.

これについてのレポートを来週までの課題にします。 kore ni tsuite no repooto o raishuu madeno kadai ni shimasu. The assignment until next week will be a report about this topic.

ちゃんと期限までに終わらせて提出してください。 chanto kigen made ni owarasete teishutsu shite kudasai. Make sure to finish and submit it before the due date.

この課題の締め切りは来週の火曜日です。 kono kadai no shimekiri wa raishuu no kayoubi desu. The due date for this assignment is next Tuesday.

Whether you are taking a Japanese class or you want to teach at a Japanese local school and/or study with native students, knowing Japanese classroom phrases and vocabulary ahead will make your school life easier. On top of the basic terminology of lesson, classroom, teacher, and student, learning other common phrases will allow you to understand and communicate better with the rest of the class. Feel free to refer back to this guide for a free email sample for being absent from class, or vocabulary needed to remind your classmates about the due date of your assignment!

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, why not join a Japanese class at Coto Academy? We offer online and in-person courses , with a variety of free lessons designed to help you improve your Japanese speaking skill. 

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Meaning of homework in Japanese

Definition of homework.

• ( n ) homework

課題 Kanji Details

課題を変えてみたらどうだろう。 Suppose we change the subject.

• homework ; assignment
• task; challenge; problem; question

宿題 Kanji Details

今日は宿題が無い。 I have no homework today.

Words related to homework

内職商法 Kanji Details

• ( n ) homework ing scheme (scam)

△ Kanji Details

• ( n ) average (e.g. as a mark for homework ); weak →Related words: 三角

机向 Kanji Details

• ( exp , v5u ) to sit at a desk (to study); to set to work on revision, homework , etc.

答合 Kanji Details

• ( n ) checking answers (e.g. to homework problems); verifying one's answers

Sentences containing homework

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100+ Useful Japanese Classroom Phrases & Vocabulary

If you are taking a Japanese group lesson online, or planning to study as a foreign student in Japan or to teach your language as a teacher in Japan, it’s good to know Japanese classroom phrases well for effective learning and better communication in the class.

In this guide, we introduce the most useful Japanese classroom phrases and vocabulary from various aspects, including school vocabulary, classroom greetings and calls, explaining absence and tardiness, teacher’s phrases, student phrases, and school subjects. You will learn not only common Japanese classroom phrases and vocabulary but also the unique features of Japanese schools, such as the school system, school routines, and school supplies. Let’s get ready for your class with JapanesePod101.com !

答えがわかったら手を挙げて Kotae ga wakattara te o agete (“Raise your hand if you know the answer”)

• School Vocabulary
• Classroom Greetings and Calls
• Explaining Absence and Tardiness/Leaving Early
• Teacher’s Phrases
• Student’s Phrases
• Talking About Subjects

1. School Vocabulary

Before talking about Japanese classroom phrases, here are the lists of school vocabulary for the Japanese school system, school facilities, school personnel, school routines and school supplies.

1. Japanese School System

April is one of the most important months of the year in Japan as the school year or the fiscal year begins.  Classes are held from Monday to Friday in compulsory education and at public schools, and some private schools are also open on Saturdays. The Japanese school year usually consists of three terms (学期 gakki ), and there are short spring and winter breaks or a long summer break between each school term.

Below is the basic Japanese school system ;

Elementary school:  6 years (age 7 to 12)    [Compulsory Education] Junior high school : 3 years (age 13 to 15) [Compulsory Education] Senior high school : 3 years (age 16 to 18)

[Higher Education] University: 4 years (6 years for Medicine, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary, and Dentistry School) Junior college: 2 years (or 3, depending on the school) Vocational school: 2 years (or 3, depending on the school)

Japanese Words for School Vocabulary 

教室 kyōshitsu (“classroom”)

2. School Facilities

図書室 toshoshitsu (“library”)

3. School Personnel

*Generally, 先生 ( sensei ) is who teaches something, and 先生 ( sensei ) is commonly used for school teachers. On the other hand, a synonym word 教師 ( kyōshi ) is used as an occupation, for example, 私は教師です Watashi wa kyōshi desu. “I’m a teacher.” 

4. School Routines

*Food Service  給食 kyūshoku is usually provided at elementary school and middle high school for very low monthly fees in Japan. They usually eat kyūshoku in the classroom. In high school, students either bring their own lunch boxes お弁当 o-bentō or use the school cafeteria.

**There is time allocated for cleaning, especially from elementary to high school, and students clean their school by themselves in Japan. Not only in their home classroom but also in corridors, bathrooms, gym, and other places in the school. In this way, Japanese schools teach students to clean, keep tidy, be responsible, use things with care, etc.

5. School Supplies

 * シャーペン shāpen (“mechanical pencil”) is 和製英語 Wasei-eigo (“Japanese-made English”)  word that is the shorter version of シャープペンシル “ sha rp pen cil.”

** Wearing 上履き uwabaki (“school indoor shoes” ) at school is something particular about Japan. This comes from the Japanese culture and etiquette that people are expected to remove their shoes when entering homes and other particular rooms or buildings.

*** ランドセル randoseru (“school backpack for elementary school kids” ) is a unique Japanese school backpack usually made of leather with a firm structure. Traditionally, parents or grandparents give children as a gift upon entering elementary school. They use the same randoseru for 6 years until they graduate from elementary school. 

To enhance your Japanese vocabulary and learn more about Japanese basic nouns, please check out Guide to the Top 100+ Japanese Nouns .

ランドセルは日本の小学校のかばんです。 Randoseru wa Nihon no shōgakkō no kaban desu. (“Randoseru is a bag for elementary school in Japan” )

6. Example Sentences

タメ口 Tameguchi (“peer language”) or casual speech form can be used when talking among students. However, 敬語 keigo (“honorific speech”) or polite language should be used for teachers.

Here are some basic phrases in Japanese classrooms using school vocabulary:

[Japanese]     鉛筆を1本借りてもいい？　 Enpitsu o ippon karite mo ii?  (casual)      　　           [English]         “May I borrow a (one) pencil? ”

*Japanese language learning: To learn more about Japanese numbers, see Japanese Numbers: Let’s Master the Basic Japanese Numbers !

[Japanese]    生物の教科書を失くしちゃった。    (casual)                         Seibutsu no kyōkasho o nakushichatta.  [English]         “I lost my biology textbook.”

[Japanese]    宿題を忘れました。 (polite)                         Shukudai o wasuremashita. [English]         “I forgot my homework.”

[Japanese]    消しゴム持ってる?     Keshigomu motte ru?    (casual)    　 [English]         “Do you have an eraser?”

[Japanese]    これ使っていいよ。   Kore tsukatte ii yo.     (casual)    [English]         “Here, you can use this.”

[Japanese]    ありがとう、後で返すね。   Arigatō, ato de kaesu ne.     (casual)    [English]         “Thanks, I will return it to you later.”

[Japanese]    明日の朝は体育館で全校朝礼があります。     (polite)                         Ashita no asa wa taiikukan de zenkō chōrei ga arimasu. [English]         “We will have a whole school assembly at the gymnasium tomorrow morning. ”

[Japanese]    明日の化学の試験は何時だっけ？       (casual)                         Ashita no kagaku no shiken wa nan-ji dakke? [English]         “What time is the chemistry test tomorrow?”

*Please visit How to Tell Time in Japanese article and Japanese Calendar Dates: Reading Dates in Japanese & More on JapanesePod101 to learn how to tell time and date in Japanese.

消しゴム持ってる?   Keshigomu motte ru?    (“Do you have an eraser?”)

2. Classroom Greetings and Calls 

Some of the most essential Japanese classroom phrases are greetings and calls used at school. Here is the list of frequently used Japanese words and greetings in classrooms.

[Japanese]     先生 / 教授、おはようございます。　 Sensei / kyōju, ohayō gozaimasu.  (polite) [English]         “Good morning teacher / professor.”

*Japanese language learning: To learn more Japanese greetings, check out How to Say Hello in Japanese: Practical Japanese Greetings .

[Japanese]    おはよう。 Ohayō.   (casual)    　　   [English]         “Good morning.”

[Japanese]    バイバイ。 Bai bai.   (casual)    　　   [English]         “Bye bye.”

[Japanese]    また明日。 Mata ashita.   (casual)    　　   [English]         “See you tomorrow.”

[Japanese]    先生、さようなら。 Sensei, sayōnara.   (polite)    　　   [English]         “Good bye, teacher.”

[Japanese]    起立！   　 気をつけ！　   礼!　      着席!            (imperative)                         Kiritsu ! Ki o tsuke ! Rei ! Chakuseki ! [English]         “Stand up! Attention (make a good posture)! Bow!  Seated down! ”

*This is the traditional call and ritual of bowing in Japan at the start and end of school class to greet the teacher. Usually, one of the students in a class is allocated to the call roll on a weekly or monthly basis.

When there is a whole school or classroom assembly, usually held in the gymnasium or schoolyard, the following phrases are used.

[Japanese]    集合！     Shūgō!     (imperative)    　 [English]         “Assemble / gather!”

[Japanese]    一列に並べ。   Ichi-retsu ni narabe.     (imperative)    [English]         “Line up in a row.”

[Japanese]    前へならえ。   Mae e narae.     (imperative)    [English]         “Stand at arm’s length. (Literally: follow (do) as front)”

[Japanese]    解散！ Kaisan !       (imperative) 　　    [English]         “Dismissed!”

3. Explaining Absence and Tardiness/Leaving Early 

1. taking attendance.

At Japanese Schools, usually from elementary school to high school, students have a “home class” and a particular teacher (担任 tannin ) who’s in charge of its home class. Students usually stay in the home classroom and 担任 ( tannin ) teaches all the basic subjects in elementary school, and teachers of each subject come to the classroom to give classes in junior highschool and senior highschool.

The teacher in charge of a home-class calls the roll in the morning meeting. 

Japanese Vocabulary for Taking Attendance

Following are some teacher’s basic phrases in Japanese for taking attendance:

[Japanese]    静かに。出欠を取ります。 Shizuka ni. Shukketsu o torimasu.   　　   [English]         “Quiet please, I will take attendance now.”

[Japanese]    名前を呼ばれたら返事をすること。   Namae o yobaretara henji o suru koto. 　　   [English]         “Respond when your name is called.”

[Japanese]    全員いますか。  Zen’in imasu ka. 　　   [English]         “Is everyone here?”

[Japanese]    誰か欠席の人いますか。 Dare ka kesseki no hito imasu ka.       　　   [English]         “Anybody absent?”

[Japanese]   [name]さんが今日欠席した理由を知っている人はいますか。                       [name] -san ga kyō kesseki shita riyū o shitte iru hito wa imasu ka. [English]      “Does anyone know why [name] is absent today?”

 はい、います。 Hai, imasu. (“Yes, I’m present”)

Following are some student’s basic phrases in Japanese for taking attendance:

[Japanese]    はい、います。 Hai, imasu.   　　   [English]       “Yes, I’m present.”   (response when your name is called) 

[Japanese]    [name] さんがいません。[name]- san ga imasen.    　　   [English]       “[name] is not here.”

[Japanese]    すみません、寝坊したので遅刻しました。                         Sumimasen, nebō shita node chikoku shimashita. [English]         “I’m sorry, I was late because I overslept.”

[Japanese]    電車が人身事故で止まったので遅刻しました。                         Densha ga jinshin jiko de tomatta node chikoku shimashita. [English]         “I was late because the train stopped due to an injury accident.”

[Japanese]    [name]さんは昨日から体調が悪くて、今日は欠席です。                           [name]-san wa kinō kara taichō ga warukute, kyō wa kesseki desu. [English]         “[name] has been sick since yesterday and is absent today.”

[Japanese]    足を骨折したので、体育の授業は見学します。                           Ashi o kossetsu shita node, taiiku no jugyō wa kengaku shimasu. [English]         “I will just observe the PE class because I broke my leg.”

[Japanese]    すみません、とても気分が悪いので早退します。                           Sumimasen, totemo kibun ga warui node sōtai shimasu. [English]         “Excuse me, I’m leaving early because I feel very sick.”

4. Teacher’s Phrases  

In the Japanese culture, names are called together with 敬称 keish ō (“Japanese honorific title”) , “さん san ” is most commonly used.

When a teacher talks to a student : [student family name] + さん san  In some cases, [family name of a male student] + 君 くん kun

The following are frequently used Japanese classroom phrases by teachers in a class.

1. Instructions

[Japanese]    みんな、席に着いて。 Minna, seki ni tsuite.   　　   [English]       “Everyone, be seated.”

[Japanese]    [name] 君、早く座りなさい。　[name]- kun, hayaku suwarinasai.    　　   [English]         “[name], sit down now.”

[Japanese]    では、始めます。 Dewa, hajimemasu.                   　   [English]         “Well, let’s begin.”

[Japanese]    今日はXXXについて勉強します。     Ky ō wa XXX ni tsuite benkyō shimasu. [English]         “We are going to learn XXX today.”

[Japanese]    教科書のXXページを開いてください。   Ky ōkasho no XX-pēji o hiraite kudasai.  [English]         “Please open to page XX of your textbook.”

[Japanese]    これはとても重要です。   Kore wa totemo jūyō desu.   　　   [English]         “This is very important.”

[Japanese]    これはテストに出るので、しっかり理解してください。                           Kore wa tesuto ni deru node, shikkari rikai shite kudasai. [English]         “Please understand this well because this will be on the test.”

[Japanese]   しっかり聞いてください。 Shikkari kiite kudasai. 　   [English]       “Listen carefully.”

[Japanese]   　黒板の図を見てください。　 Kokuban no zu o mite kudasai.   　　   [English]         “Look at the diagram on the blackboard.”

[Japanese]    この質問の答えがわかる人は手をあげてください。                           Kono shitsumon no kotae ga wakaru hito wa te o agete kudasai. [English]         “Raise your hand if you know the answer to this question.”

[Japanese]    最初に聞いてから、私の後で繰り返してください。                              Saisho ni kiite kara, watashi no ato de kurikaeshite kudasai. [English]         “Listen first and repeat after me.”

[Japanese]    答えをノートに書いて。   Kotae o n ōto ni kaite.  [English]         “Write the answers in your notebook.”

[Japanese]    みんなで一緒に、２段落目から読みましょう。                             Minna de issho ni, ni-danraku-me kara yomimashō. [English]         “Let’s read from the second paragraph together.”

[Japanese]    [name]さん、XXページを読んでください。                         [name]-san, XX-pēji o yonde kudasai. [English]         “[student name], read the page XX please.”

[Japanese]    紙を一枚ずつ取って、後ろの人に渡してください。                         Kami o ichi-mai zutsu totte, ushiro no hito ni watashite kudasai. [English]         “Take one sheet of paper and pass (the rest) to the person behind you.”

これはとても重要です。 Kore wa totemo jūyō desu.   ( “This is very important.”)

2. Homework

[Japanese]    今日の宿題はXXXです。     Ky ō no shukudai wa XXX desu. [English]         “Homework for today is XXX.”

[Japanese]    宿題は教科書XXページの１番から５番です。                         Shukudai wa kyōkasho XX-pēji no ichi-ban kara go-ban desu. [English]         “The homework is from the number 1 to 5 on page XX of the textbook.”

[Japanese]    今日学んだことを家で復習してください。                            Kyō mananda koto o ie de fukushū shite kudasai. [English]         “Review at home what you’ve learned today.”

[Japanese]    前回出された宿題は、先生の机の上に提出してください。                         Zenkai dasareta shukudai wa, sensei no tsukue no ue ni teishutsu shite kudasai. [English]         “Please submit the homework given last time on the teacher’s desk.”

[Japanese]    宿題の提出は成績に反映されます。                         Shukudai no teishutsu wa seiseki ni han’ei saremasu. [English]         “Your homework submission will be reflected in your grades.”

3. Questions

[Japanese]    質問はありますか。     Shitsumon wa arimasu ka. [English]         “Any questions?”

[Japanese]    皆さん分かりましたか。  Mina-san wakarimashita ka. [English]         “Did everyone understand this?”

[Japanese]    誰かこの問題を解答できますか。   Dare ka kono mondai o kait ō dekimasu ka.   　　   [English]         “Can anyone solve this problem?”

[Japanese]    正しい答えは何ですか。     Tadashii kotae wa nan desu ka. [English]         “What is the correct answer?”

[Japanese]    ここまでで何か分からないことはありますか。                         Koko made de nani ka wakaranai koto wa arimasu ka. [English]         “Is there anything you don’t understand so far?”

  正しい答えは何ですか。   Tadashii kotae wa nan desu ka.   ( “What is the correct answer?”)

4. Keeping the Order

[Japanese]    静かにしなさい。 Shizuka ni shinasai. [English]         “Be quiet.”

[Japanese]    おしゃべりはやめなさい。  Oshaberi wa yamenasai. [English]         “Stop talking!”

[Japanese]    自分の席に戻りなさい。     Jibun no seki ni modorinasai. [English]         “Go back to your seat!”

[Japanese]    授業に集中しなさい。 Jugy ō ni shūchū shinasai. [English]         “Focus on the class!”

[Japanese]    質問がある時は手をあげてください。   Shitsumon ga aru toki wa te o agete kudasai. [English]         “Raise your hand if you have a question.”

Japanese language learning : To learn more Japanese angry phrases, please also check out Getting Angry in Japanese: 20+ Useful Japanese Angry Phrases . 

5. Student’s Phrases 

At schools in Japan, faculty is usually called by his/her title by students. When students talk to a teacher:  先生 sensei (“Mr./ Mrs.“, Literally: teacher) When students talk to a professor:  教授 ky ō ju (Literally: professor)

If you want to be more specific, add a name in front of a title, such as 高橋先生 Takahashi-sensei (Mr./ Mrs. Takahashi , Literally: Takahashi teacher).

Here is the list of most useful Japanese classroom phrases used by students, including when asking questions to a teacher and when talking with other students.

1. Asking Questions

[Japanese]    すみません、何ページですか。     Sumimasen, nan-p ē ji desu ka. [English]         “Excuse me, what page are we on?”

[Japanese]    わかりません。 Wakarimasen. [English]         “I don’t understand.”

[Japanese]    過去分詞の使い方がわかりません。 Kakobunshi no tsukaikata ga wakarimasen. [English]         “I don’t understand how to use a past participle.”

[Japanese]    その部分をもう一度言ってください。 Sono bubun o m ō ichi-do itte kudasai. [English]         “Please repeat that part again.”

[Japanese]    もう一度ゆっくり言ってもらえますか。 M ō ichi-do yukkuri itte moraemasu ka. [English]         “Can you say that again slowly?”

[Japanese]    もっとわかりやすく説明してください。 Motto wakariyasuku setsumei shite kudasai. [English]         “Please explain it in a more understandable way.”

[Japanese]    質問があります。 Shitsumon ga arimasu. [English]         “I have a question.”

[Japanese]    質問してもいいですか。  Shitsumon shite mo ii desu ka. [English]         “Can I ask you a question?”

[Japanese]    先生は今何て言いましたか。 Sensei wa ima nante iimashita ka. [English]         “What did the teacher just say?”

[Japanese]    これは何て発音しますか。 Kore wa nante hatsuon shimasu ka. [English]         “How do you pronounce this?”

[Japanese]    XXXはどういう意味ですか。　 XXX wa d ō iu imi desu ka. [English]         “What does XXX mean?”

[Japanese]    どうしてこの場合に未来完了形を使うのですか。                         Dōshite kono bāi ni mirai kanryōkei o tsukau no desu ka.　 [English]         “Why do you use the future perfect tense in this case?”

[Japanese]    これは合ってますか。 Kore wa atte masu ka. [English]         “Is this correct ?”

[Japanese]    これが正解ですか。 Kore ga seikai desu ka. [English]         “Is this the correct answer?”

[Japanese]    やっと理解しました。 Yatto rikai shimashita. [English]         “I finally understood.”

[Japanese]    トイレに行ってもいいですか。 Toire ni itte mo ii desu ka. [English]         “May I go to the bathroom?”

[Japanese]    気分が悪いので、保健室に行ってもいいですか。                         Kibun ga warui node, hokenshitsu ni itte mo ii desu ka. [English]         “May I go to the infirmary because I feel sick?”

 質問があります。 Shitsumon ga arimasu. (“I have a question.”)

2. Talking Among Students

The speech tone is very casual for conversations among students. The following are handy Japanese classroom phrases when you want to chat with your friends in a class.

[Japanese]    今どこ？ Ima doko? [English]         “Where are we at?”

[Japanese]    今何ページ？ 　Ima nan-pēji? [English]         “Which page are we on?”

[Japanese]    宿題やった？ Shukudai yatta?   [English]         “Did you do your homework?”

[Japanese]    宿題やったのに、家に忘れてきちゃった。 Shukudai yatta noni, ie ni wasurete kichatta. [English]         “Though I did my homework, I forgot it at home.”

[Japanese]    後でノート見せてもらってもいい？  Ato de n ōto misete moratte mo ii? [English]         “Can I see your notebook later?”

[Japanese]    今日の授業は全然わからなかった。 Ky ō no jugy ō wa zenzen wakaranakatta. [English]         “I didn’t understand today’s class at all.”

[Japanese]    この問題が分からないんだけど、教えて。 Kono mondai ga wakaranai n da kedo, oshiete. [English]         “I don’t understand this problem, can you teach me?”

[Japanese]    宿題は何だっけ？ Shukudai wa nan dakke? [English]         “What is the homework?”

[Japanese]   教科書の何ページが試験範囲？ Kyōkasho no nan-pēji ga shiken han’i? [English]         “Which pages of the textbook will be covered in the exam?”

[Japanese]    英語のテストはいつだっけ？  Eigo no tesuto wa itsu dakke? [English]         “When is the English exam?”

[Japanese]   試験の勉強は全然できてない。  Shiken no benkyō wa zenzen dekite nai.               [English]         “I couldn’t study enough for exams at all.”

[Japanese]    テスト/試験 どうだった？ Tesuto / shiken dō datta? [English]         “How was your test / exams?”

[Japanese]   どうしよう、英語のテストが赤点*だった。 Dō shiyō, Eigo no tesuto ga akaten* datta.  [English]         “What should I do, I got a red mark on the English test.”

*赤点 akaten is a slang word for bad grades, it is literally translated as “red mark”, meaning “failing grades”.

[Japanese]   試験の結果は思ったより良かったよ。 Shiken no kekka wa omotta yori yokatta yo.             [English]         “The result of the exam was better than I thought.”

[Japanese]    試験期間が終わったら、カラオケに行こう！ Shiken kikan ga owattara, karaoke ni ikō! [English]         “When the exam period is over, let’s go to Karaoke!”

テストどうだった？ Tesuto dō datta? (“How was your test?”)

6. Talking About Subjects  

1. subject vocabulary [from elementary to high school].

School subjects are one of the most essential parts when learning classroom phrases and vocabulary. 

The following is the list of subjects (科目 kamoku ) that are taught from elementary school to high school in Japan. 

学科 gakka / 科目 kamoku (“School subjects”)

2. Subject Vocabulary [University]

Below are the common department / course of study (学科 gakka ) taught in higher education, such as junior college or university.

3. Example Sentences

Here are some basic phrases in Japanese using subject vocabulary:

[Japanese]    私の一番好きな科目は [subject] です。                          Watashi no ichi-ban suki na kamoku wa [subject] desu. [English]         “My favorite subject is [subject].”

[Japanese]    私は [subject] が得意です。 Watashi wa [subject] ga tokui desu. [English]         “I’m good at [subject].”

[Japanese]    私は [subject] が苦手です。 Watashi wa [subject] ga nigate desu. [English]         “I’m not good at [subject].”

[Japanese]   [subject] は難しいので嫌いです。  [subject] wa muzukashii node kirai desu. [English]         “I don’t like [subject] because it’s difficult.”

[Japanese]    何の科目が一番好きですか。 Nan no kamoku ga ichi-ban suki desu ka. [English]         “What is your favorite subject?”

[Japanese]   何の科目が得意ですか。  Nan no kamoku ga tokui desu ka.              [English]         “Which subjects are you good at?”

[Japanese]    大学では [subject] を学びたいです。 Daigaku de wa [subject] o manabitai desu. [English]         “I’d like to learn [subject] at university.”

[Japanese]   専攻学科は何ですか。 Senkō gakka wa nan desu ka.         [English]         “What is your major?”

[Japanese]   私の専攻学科は [subject] です。 Watashi no senkō gakka wa [subject] desu.           [English]         “My major is [subject].”

[Japanese]    第二外国語としてドイツ語のクラスをとっています。                         Dai-ni gaikokugo toshite Doitsu-go no kurasu o totte imasu. [English]         “I’m taking German class as a second foreign language.”

Japanese language learning : If you want to learn more about how to introduce yourself in Japanese, please see How to Say “My Name is,” in Japanese + More !

7. Conclusion

In this article, we introduced 100+ most useful Japanese Classroom Phrases and Vocabulary, including:

• School vocabulary and the Japanese school system 
• Useful Classroom Greetings and Calls
• Talking about Subjects

Whether you are taking a Japanese class or you want to teach at a Japanese local school and/or study with native students, our guide of Japanese Classroom Phrases and Vocabulary will make your school life easier and more adaptable.

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find a lot more helpful content on JapanesePod101.com . This is the best place to learn Japanese online, providing a variety of free lessons designed to help you improve your Japanese-language skills. 

If you are interested in more Japanese phrases sorted by situations, the following articles are just right for you: 

• Japanese Travel Phrases for an Enjoyable Trip to Japan

50+ Restaurants Phrases for Eating Out in Japan

• Essential Business Japanese: Learn the Most Useful Phrases

And there’s so much more! Be a faster learner and enjoy studying Japanese at JapanesePod101.com !

Before you go, let us know in the comments if there are any specific topics or situations you’d like to learn Japanese phrases for. We’d be glad to help, and we look forward to hearing from you! 

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Japanese translation of 'homework'

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an occasion when a driver in a motor race stops in the pits (= area where cars are repaired)

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How to say "I do my homework." in Japanese.

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Expressing “must” or “have to”

When there’s something that must or must not be done.

In life, there are things that we must or must not do whether it’s taking out the trash or doing our homework. We will cover how to say this in Japanese because it is a useful expression and it also ties in well with the previous section. We will also learn how to the say the expression, “You don’t have to…” to finish off this section.

Using 「 だめ 」, 「 いけない 」, and 「ならない」 for things that must not be done

• 駄目 【だめ】 – no good
• ここ – here
• 入る 【はい・る】 (u-verb) – to enter
• それ – that
• 食べる 【たべ・る】 (ru-verb) – to eat
• 夜 【よる】 – evening
• 遅い 【おそ・い】 (i-adj) – late
• ～まで (particle) – until ～
• 電話 【でん・わ】 – phone
• する (exception) – to do
• 早い 【はや・い】 (i-adj) – fast; early
• 寝る 【ね・る】 (ru-verb) – to sleep

If you’re not familiar with the word 「 だめ 」（ 駄目 ）, though it can be used in many different ways it essentially means “no good”. The other two key words in this section are 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」 and they have essentially the same basic meaning as 「 だめ 」. However, while 「 いけない 」 can be used by itself, 「ならない」 must only be used in the grammar presented here. In addition, while 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」 conjugate like i-adjectives they are not actual adjectives. Let’s learn how to use these words to express things that must not be done.

• Take the te-form of the verb, add the 「は」 (wa) particle and finally attach either 「 だめ 」、「 いけない 」、or 「ならない」. Example 入る → 入って + は + だめ ／ いけない ／ならない = 入って は だめ ／ 入って は いけない ／ 入って はならない
• ここ に 入って は いけません 。 You must not enter here.
• それ を 食べて は だめ ！ You can’t (must not) eat that!
• 夜 、 遅く まで 電話 して は ならない。 You must not use the phone until late at night.
• 早く 寝て は なりませんでした。 Wasn’t allowed to sleep early.

The difference between 「 だめ 」、「 いけない 」、and 「ならない」 is that, first of all, 「 だめ 」 is casual. While 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」 are basically identical, 「ならない」 is generally more for things that apply to more than one person like rules and policies.

Expressing things that must be done

• 毎日 【まい・にち】 – everyday
• 学校 【がっ・こう】 – school
• 行く 【い・く】 (u-verb) – to go
• 宿題 【しゅく・だい】 – homework

You may have predicted that the opposite of “You must not do” would use 「 いける 」 or 「 なる 」 because they look like the positive version of 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」. However, 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」 must always be negative, so this is not correct. In actuality, we still use the same 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」 and use the opposite of the verb that goes in front of it instead. This double negative can be kind of confusing at first but you will get used to it with practice. There are three ways to conjugate the verb before adding 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」 and two of them involve conditionals so aren’t you glad that you just learned conditionals in the previous section?

• Negative te-form + 「は」 (wa) particle + だめ ／ いけない ／ならない
• Negative verb + 「と」 conditional + だめ ／ いけない ／ならない
• Negative verb + 「ば」 conditional + だめ ／ いけない ／ならない

The first method is the same as the “must not do” grammar form except that we simply negated the verb.

• 毎日 学校 に 行かなくて は なりません。 Must go to school everyday.
• 宿題 を しなくて は いけなかった Had to do homework.

The second method uses the natural conditional that we learned in the last lesson. Literally, it means if you don’t do something, then it automatically leads to the fact that it is no good. (In other words, you must do it.) However, people tend to use it for situations beyond the natural consequence characterization that we learned from the last section because it’s shorter and easier to use than the other two types of grammar.

• 毎日 学校 に 行かない と だめ です。 Must go to school everyday.
• 宿題 を しない と いけない Have to do homework.

The third method is similar to the second except that it uses a different type of conditional as explained in the last lesson. With the 「ば」 conditional, it can be used for a wider range of situations. Note that since the verb is always negative, for the 「ば」 conditional, we will always be removing the last 「い」 and adding 「ければ」.

• 毎日 学校 に 行かなければ いけません 。 Must go to school everyday.
• 宿題 を しなければ だめ だった。 Had to do homework.

It may seem like I just breezed through a whole lot of material because there are three grammar forms and 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」 adding up to nine possible combinations (3×3). However, some combinations are more common than others but I did not explicitly point out which were more common because any combination is technically correct and going over style would merely confuse at this point. Also, keep in mind that there is nothing essentially new in terms of conjugation rules. We already covered conditionals in the last lesson and adding the wa particle to the te-form in the beginning of this section.

※ Reality Check

Although we spent the last section explaining 「～なければ」 and 「～なくては」, the reality is that because they are so long, they are practically never used in real conversations. While they are often used in a written context, in actual speech, people usually use the 「と」 conditional or the various shortcuts described below. In casual speech, the 「と」 conditional is the most prevalent type of conditional. Though I explained in depth the meaning associated with the 「と」 conditional, you have to take it with a grain of salt here because people are inherently lazy.

Various short-cuts for the lazy

• 勉強 【べん・きょう】 – study
• ご飯 【ご・はん】 – rice; meal
• 食べる 【た・べる】 (ru-verb) – to eat
• 死ぬ 【し・ぬ】 (u-verb) – to die

You may have been grumbling and complaining about how long most of the expressions are just to say you must do something. You can end up with up to eight additional syllables just to say “I have to…”!

Well, others have thought the same before and people usually use short abbreviated versions of 「なくては」 and 「なければ」 in casual speech. Teachers are often reluctant to teach these overly familiar expressions because they are so much easier to use which is bad for times when they might not be appropriate. But, on the other hand, if you don’t learn casual expressions, it makes it difficult to understand your friends (or would-be friends if you only knew how to speak less stiffly!). So here they are but take care to properly practice the longer forms so that you will be able to use them for the appropriate occasions.

• Simply replace 「なくて」 with 「なくちゃ」
• Simply replace 「なければ」 with 「なきゃ」

Right now, you may be saying, “What the?” because the “abbreviations” are about the same length as what we’ve already covered. The secret here is that, unlike the expressions we learned so far, you can just leave the 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」 part out altogether!

• 勉強 し なくちゃ 。 Gotta study.
• ご飯 を 食べ なきゃ 。 Gotta eat.

The 「と」 conditional is also used by itself to imply 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」.

• 学校 に 行かない と 。 Gotta go to school.

There is another 「ちゃ」 abbreviation for things that you must not do . However, in this case, you cannot leave out 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」. Since this is a casual abbreviation, 「 だめ 」 is used in most cases.

One very important difference for this casual form is that verbs that end in 「む」、「ぶ」、「ぬ」 use 「じゃ」 instead of 「ちゃ」. Essentially, all the verbs that end in 「んだ」 for past tense fall in this category.

• Replace 「ては」 with 「ちゃ」
• Replace 「では」 with 「じゃ」
• ここ に 入っちゃ だめ だよ。 You can’t enter here.
• 死んじゃ だめ だよ！ – You can’t die!

On a final note, in general, 「ちゃ」 sounds a bit cutesy or girly. You’ve already seen an example of this with the 「ちゃん」 suffix. Similarly, 「なくちゃ」 also sounds a bit cutesy or childish.

Saying something is ok to do or not do

• 全部 【ぜん・ぶ】 – everything
• いい (i-adj) – good
• 飲む 【の・む】 (u-verb) – to drink
• 大丈夫 【だい・じょう・ぶ】 (na-adj) – ok
• 構う 【かま・う】 (u-verb) – to mind; to be concerned about
• もう – already
• 帰る 【かえ・る】 (u-verb) – to go home
• これ – this
• ちょっと – just a little
• 見る 【み・る】 (ru-verb) – to see

Now let’s learn how to say either that it’s ok to do or not do something. I decided to shove this section in here because in Japanese, this is essential how to say that you don’t have to something (by saying it’s ok to not do it). The grammar itself is also relatively easy to pick up and makes for a short section.

By simply using the te-form and the 「も」 particle, you are essentially saying, “even if you do X…” Common words that come after this include 「 いい 」, 「 大丈夫 」, or 「 構わない 」. Some examples will come in handy.

• 全部 食べ ても いい よ。 You can go ahead and eat it all. (lit: Even if you eat it all, it’s good, you know.)
• 全部 食べなく ても いい よ。 You don’t have to eat it all. (lit: Even if you don’t eat it all, it’s good, you know.)
• 全部 飲ん でも 大丈夫 だよ。 It’s ok if you drink it all. (lit: Even if you drink it all, it’s OK, you know.)
• 全部 飲ん でも 構わない よ。 I don’t mind if you drink it all. (lit: Even if you drink it all, I don’t mind, you know.)

In casual speech, 「～ても いい 」 sometimes get shortened to just 「～て いい 」 （or 「～で いい 」 instead of 「～でも いい 」 ）.

• もう 帰っ て いい ？ Can I go home already?
• これ 、 ちょっと 見 て いい ？ Can I take a quick look at this?

Everything you want to know about Japan

Do Japanese students get a lot of homework?

1. introduction.

Do Japanese students get a lot of homework? This is a question that has been asked for decades, and the answer is not always straightforward. In this article, we will explore the issue of homework in Japan from both a historical and modern perspective. We will look at how much homework Japanese students receive, what factors affect the amount of homework they receive, and the benefits and disadvantages of heavy homework loads for Japanese students. Finally, we will discuss the impact of technology on homework in Japan.

2. What is Homework?

Homework is defined as any academic assignment that is given to students outside of class time to be completed on their own. It can include reading assignments, writing essays or reports, solving problems, or conducting research. Homework is an important part of the learning process as it allows students to practice and reinforce concepts learned in class and prepare for upcoming lessons.

3. Homework in Japan: A Historical Perspective

Homework has been a part of education in Japan since ancient times. In the Edo period (1603-1868), students were expected to complete their studies at home with the help of their parents or tutors. During this time, there was an emphasis on rote memorization and repetition rather than understanding concepts deeply. This approach continued into the Meiji period (1868-1912) when formal schooling became more widespread and textbooks were introduced into classrooms across Japan. The amount of homework assigned during this period was generally light compared to today’s standards; however, it still included some form of nightly practice or review work that was expected to be completed by all students.

4. How Much Homework Do Japanese Students Receive?

The amount of homework assigned to Japanese students varies greatly depending on grade level and school type (public vs private). According to recent surveys conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), elementary school children typically receive around 60 minutes per day while junior high schoolers receive around 100 minutes per day on average. High schoolers have even more with an average daily load ranging from 120-150 minutes per day depending on grade level and subject matter studied.

5. Factors That Affect the Amount of Homework Received by Japanese Students

There are several factors that can affect how much homework a student receives in Japan including grade level, school type (public vs private), subject matter studied (science vs humanities) as well as regional differences between prefectures/cities/towns within Japan itself due to differing educational philosophies between local governments/school boards etc.. Additionally, teachers’ expectations may also vary due to personal preferences or beliefs about how much work should be assigned each night/weekend etc..

6. Benefits and Disadvantages of Heavy Homework Loads for Japanese Students

Heavy homework loads can have both positive and negative effects on student learning outcomes in Japan depending on individual circumstances such as family support or access to resources like tutoring etc.. On one hand, having a lot of homework can help reinforce concepts learned in class while encouraging independent study habits which are beneficial for long term success in higher education or career pursuits after graduation from high school/university etc.. On the other hand however, too much work can lead to fatigue/burnout which can negatively impact concentration levels leading to lower grades overall if not managed properly over time etc..

7. The Impact of Technology on Homework in Japan

In recent years there has been an increased use of technology such as computers/tablets/smartphones etc., which has had both positive & negative impacts on traditional methods used for assigning & completing assignments such as essays & problem sets etc.. On one hand it has made it easier for teachers & administrators alike to distribute materials & track progress online but at same time it has led some educators & parents alike concerned about potential distractions posed by devices like smartphones which could potentially lead to lower academic performance if not managed properly over time etc..

8 Conclusion

In conclusion it is clear that Japanese students do indeed receive quite a bit more homework than their counterparts around world but this varies greatly depending on individual circumstances such as grade level & school type etc.. The amount & type assigned also depends heavily upon teacher expectations & regional differences between prefectures/cities within country itself but overall trend seems be increasing due introduction new technologies like computers/tablets which have made it easier assign tasks monitor progress online but also pose potential distractions if not managed properly over time etc..

9 References

1) Ministry Of Education Culture Sports Science And Technology “Survey Results On Hours Spent Doing Homework By Elementary Junior High And High School Students” Accessed April 15th 2021 https://www8.mext.go.jp /a_menu /shotou /toushin /1375705.htm 2) BBC News “Japan’s ‘Education Fever’ Is Making Children Ill” Accessed April 15th 2021 https://www.bbc.com /news /world -asia -39935337

How many hours do kids in Japan spend on homework?

On an average day Japanese high school students go to school from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and depending on the school and the individual how immersed they are in exam hell. Many go to school diligently during the day and on weekends and are very involved in sports or club activities.

How many hours do Japanese students study in school?

School leaves around 3.15pm so they have to be at school about six and a half hours a day from Monday to Friday. However most children also go after school and many also go to doll schools (生书) in the evenings for extra study. Learn more about school life in Japan in our Getting to know the kids section.

How many hours do Japanese students work?

As a student you can work 28 hours a week. Its a combination of all the places you work so if you work two jobs for example you can only work 14 hours each. If you leave school because you dont want to carry out student-related activities your work permit will not be valid.

How many hours a week do Japanese students study?

FSI classes are 25 hours per week but students spend 3-4 hours per day on independent study outside of class time. Between class time and independent study students study about 395 hours per week.

What country has the shortest school day?

Finland Finland School Hours Typically, the Finnish school day starts anywhere from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and students typically spend only about five hours a day in the classroom. Whats more, Finnish students typically have little to no homework.

What country has the longest school hours?

Asian countries are known for their great education systems and exam schedules. All of Taiwan is notable for having the longest school hours which annoys some students while others find it necessary.

Related posts:

• How many hours a day do Japanese students study?
• Why are Japanese so hygienic?
• How often do Japanese wash their hair?
• Is learning Japanese worth it?

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It Took Decades, but Japan’s Working Women Are Making Progress

Employers have taken steps to change a male-dominated workplace culture. But women still struggle to balance their careers with domestic obligations.

By Motoko Rich ,  Hisako Ueno and Kiuko Notoya

Reporting from Tokyo

When the future empress of Japan entered the country’s elite diplomatic corps in 1987, a year after a major equal employment law went into effect, she was one of only three female recruits. Known then as Masako Owada, she worked long hours and had a rising career as a trade negotiator. But she lasted just under six years in the job, giving it up to marry Crown Prince — and now Emperor — Naruhito.

Much has changed for Japan’s Foreign Ministry — and, in some ways, for Japanese women more broadly — in the ensuing three decades.

Since 2020, women have comprised nearly half of each entering class of diplomats, and many women continue their careers after they marry. These advances, in a country where women were predominantly hired only for clerical positions into the 1980s, show how the simple power of numbers can, however slowly, begin to remake workplace cultures and create a pipeline for leadership.

For years, Japan has promoted women in the workplace to aid its sputtering economy. Private-sector employers have taken some steps, like encouraging male employees to do more around the house, or setting limits on after-work outings that can complicate child care. But many women still struggle to balance their careers with domestic obligations.

The Foreign Ministry, led by a woman , Yoko Kamikawa, exceeds both other government agencies and familiar corporate names like Mitsubishi, Panasonic and SoftBank in an important sign of progress: its placement of women in career-track, professional jobs.

With more women in the ministry’s ranks, said Kotono Hara, a diplomat, “the way of working is drastically changing,” with more flexible hours and the option to work remotely.

Ms. Hara was one of only six women who joined the ministry in 2005. Last year, she was the event manager for a meeting of world leaders that Japan hosted in Hiroshima.

In the run-up to the Group of 7 summit, she worked in the office until 6:30 p.m. and then went home to feed and bathe her preschool-age child, before checking in with her team online later in the night. Earlier in her career, she assumed such a job was not the “kind of position that would be done by a mommy.”

Some of the progress for women at the Foreign Ministry has come as men from elite universities have turned instead to high-paying banking and consulting jobs, and educated women have come to see the public sector as appealing.

Yet as women move up in the diplomatic corps, they — like their counterparts at other employers — must juggle long working hours on top of shouldering the bulk of the duties on the home front .

Ministry staff members often work until 9 or 10 at night, and sometimes much later. Those hours tend to fall more heavily on women, said Shiori Kusuda, 29, who joined the ministry seven years ago and departed earlier this year for a consulting job in Tokyo.

Many of her male bosses at the Foreign Ministry, she said, went home to wives who took care of their meals and laundry, while her female colleagues completed domestic chores themselves. Men are encouraged to take paternity leave, but if they do, it is usually a matter of days or weeks.

Some parts of the culture have changed, Ms. Kusuda said — male colleagues proactively served her beer at after-work drinking sessions, rather than expecting her to serve them. But for women “who need to do their laundry or cooking after they go home, one hour of overtime work matters a lot,” Ms. Kusuda said.

In 2021, the latest year for which government statistics are available, married working women with children took on more than three-quarters of household chores . That load is compounded by the fact that Japanese employees, on average, work nearly 22 hours of overtime a month, according to a survey last year by Doda, a job-hunting website.

In many professions, additional hours are much higher, a reality that prompted the government to recently cap overtime at 45 hours a month .

Before the Equal Opportunity Employment Act went into effect in 1986, women were mostly hired for “ ochakumi ,” or “tea-serving,” jobs. Employers rarely recruited women for positions that could lead to executive, managerial or sales jobs.

Today, Japan is turning to women to cope with severe labor shortages. Still, while more than 80 percent of women ages 25 to 54 work, they account for just slightly more than a quarter of full-time, permanent employees. Only about one in eight managers are women, according to government data .

Some executives say women simply choose to limit their careers. Japanese women are “not as ambitious compared to women in the global market,” said Tetsu Yamaguchi, the director of global human resources for Fast Retailing, the clothing giant that owns Uniqlo. “Their priority is taking care of their child rather than developing their career.”

Worldwide, 45 percent of the company’s managers are women. In Japan, that proportion is just over a quarter.

Experts say the onus is on employers to make it easier for women to combine professional success and motherhood. Career barriers for women could hurt the broader economy, and as the nation’s birthrate dwindles , crushing expectations at work and at home can discourage ambitious women from having children.

At Sony, just one in nine of its managers in Japan are women. The company is taking small measures to support working mothers, such as offering courses for prospective fathers in which they are taught to change diapers and feed infants.

During a recent class at the company’s Tokyo headquarters, Satoko Sasaki, 35, who was seven months pregnant, watched her husband, Yudai, 29, a Sony software engineer, strap on a prosthetic belly simulating the physical sensations of pregnancy.

Ms. Sasaki, who works as an administrator at another company in Tokyo, said she was moved that her husband’s employer was trying to help men “understand my situation.”

At her own company, she said, tearing up, “I don’t have much support” from senior male colleagues.

Takayuki Kosaka, the course instructor, displayed a graph showing the time invested at home by a typical mother and father during the first 100 days of an infant’s life.

“The dad isn’t doing anything!” said Mr. Kosaka, pointing at a blue bar representing the father’s time working from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. “If he’s coming home at 11 p.m., doesn’t that mean that he also went out drinking?” he added.

After-work drinking parties with colleagues are all but obligatory at many Japanese companies, exacerbating the overwork culture. To curtail such commitments, Itochu, a conglomerate that owns the convenience store chain Family Mart among other businesses, mandates that all such parties end by 10 p.m. — still a time that makes child care difficult.

Rina Onishi, 24, who works at Itochu’s Tokyo headquarters, said she attended such parties three times a week. That is progress, she said: In the past, there were many more.

Drinking nights come on top of long days. The company now allows staff members to start working as early as 5 a.m., a policy intended in part to support parents who want to leave earlier. But many employees still work overtime. Ms. Onishi arrives at the office by 7:30 a.m. and typically stays until after 6 p.m.

Some women set limits on their work hours, even if it means forgoing promotions. Maiko Itagaki, 48, labored at a punishing pace as an advertising copywriter before landing in the hospital with a cerebral hemorrhage. After recovering, she married and gave birth to a son. But she was at the office when her mother called to tell her she had missed her son’s first steps.

“I thought, ‘Why am I working?’” Ms. Itagaki said.

She moved to a firm that conducts direct mail campaigns where she clocks in at 9 a.m. and out at 6 p.m. She declined a promotion to management. “I thought I would end up sacrificing my private time,” she said. “It felt like they just wanted me to do everything.”

At the Foreign Ministry, Hikariko Ono, Japan’s ambassador to Hungary, was the only woman out of 26 diplomats hired in 1988.

She postponed having a child out of fear that her bosses would think she did not take her career seriously. These days, she reminds younger female colleagues that if they want to have children, they are not alone.

“You can rely on the day-care center or your parents or friends,” she said. “Or even, of course, your husband.”

Motoko Rich is a reporter in Tokyo, leading coverage of Japan for The Times. More about Motoko Rich

Hisako Ueno is a reporter and researcher based in Tokyo, writing on Japanese politics, business, labor, gender and culture. More about Hisako Ueno