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Mastering the Phrase: How to Say Homework in Japanese

Are you looking to expand your Japanese language skills? Learning how to express academic tasks like “homework” in Japanese is a great place to start. In this section, we will guide you through the different ways to say “homework” in Japanese, providing you with the necessary tools to communicate more effectively in the language.

Although it may seem simple, expressing “homework” in Japanese is not as straightforward as you may think. Japanese has multiple words and expressions for this concept, depending on the context and level of formality. But fear not! By the end of this article, you will know how to say “homework” in Japanese like a pro.

So, are you ready to learn the Japanese word for homework and other relevant phrases? Let’s get started!

How to Say Homework in Japanese

When it comes to expressing the concept of homework in Japanese, there are various phrases and expressions you can use. Here are some common ways to say “homework” in Japanese:

Note that the word “宿題” (shukudai) is the most commonly used term for “homework” in Japanese. However, the other phrases can also be used depending on the context and level of formality.

How to Say Homework in Japanese in Different Contexts

Depending on the situation, the appropriate Japanese phrase for “homework” may vary. Here are some examples:

  • If you want to ask your teacher about the homework: 「今日の宿題は何ですか?」(Kyou no shukudai wa nan desu ka?) which means “What is today’s homework?”
  • If you want to tell a friend that you have homework to do: 「宿題があるんだよ」(Shukudai ga aru n da yo) which means “I have homework to do.”
  • If you want to express that the homework is difficult: 「宿題が難しいです」(Shukudai ga muzukashii desu) which means “The homework is difficult.”

By using these phrases in the appropriate context, you can effectively communicate about homework in Japanese.

Japanese Vocabulary for Homework

As mentioned earlier, the Japanese language has multiple words and expressions for “homework”, depending on the context and level of formality. Here are some of the most commonly used vocabulary words and phrases related to homework in Japanese:

It’s important to note that the pronunciation of each word and phrase can vary depending on the speaker’s region and dialect, so it’s best to listen to native speakers for proper pronunciation.

Homework Phrase in Japanese

The most commonly used phrase for “homework” in Japanese is “shukudai” (宿題), which is also the most casual and familiar. For a more formal or academic context, “kadai” (課題) can be used instead.

In addition to these phrases, Japanese educators may use the term “jishu gakushu” (自主学習) when referring to self-study or homework outside of class. Students may also use the phrases “yoshu” (予習) for preparing for a lesson and “fukushu” (復習) for reviewing material covered in class or for exams.

By familiarizing yourself with these vocabulary words and phrases, you can accurately express and discuss homework in Japanese conversations.

Ways to Express Homework in Japanese

Japanese has multiple words and expressions for “homework” depending on the context and level of formality. Here are some common ways to express homework in Japanese :

In addition to the words listed above, there are also many expressions commonly used to talk about homework in Japanese. Here are some examples:

  • しゅくだいのりょうがおおい
  • The amount of homework is large
  • まいばんしゅくだいをする
  • To do homework every night
  • しゅくだいをほうちする
  • To leave homework undone

By learning these variations for expressing homework in Japanese, you can showcase your language prowess and effectively communicate about academic tasks in various contexts.

Pronunciation and Usage Tips

Now that you know how to say homework in Japanese and have familiarized yourself with the related vocabulary and expressions, it’s important to understand how to pronounce these phrases correctly.

The Japanese word for homework is しゅくだい (shukudai). To pronounce it correctly, begin with the “shu” sound, which is similar to the English “shoe” sound, but with a slightly shorter duration. Next, move on to the “ku” sound, which is similar to the English “koo” sound. Finally, say “dai” with a long “i” sound, similar to the English word “die.”

Another word commonly used for homework in Japanese is 宿題 (shukudai). To pronounce this word, start with “shu” as before, then say “ku” and “dai” as you did previously. The final syllable “kai” is pronounced with a long “i” sound as in the English word “high.”

It’s important to note that Japanese has different levels of politeness and formality, and the appropriate word choice and expressions will depend on the context and situation. For example, if you want to ask a friend if they have any homework, you might use the phrase “shukudai aru?” which means “Do you have homework?” In a more formal setting, you may use “shukudai ga arimasu ka?” which has the same meaning, but with a higher level of politeness.

By paying attention to pronunciation and using the appropriate level of formality, you can effectively communicate about homework in Japanese. Keep practicing and soon you’ll be a master of the phrase!

Summary and Conclusion

In conclusion, learning the various ways to express “homework” in Japanese is an essential part of mastering the language. The Japanese language has multiple words for homework, and it’s important to understand the context and level of formality when choosing which phrase to use.

By familiarizing yourself with the specific vocabulary and expressions related to homework in Japanese, you can effectively communicate about academic tasks in various contexts. Additionally, understanding the correct pronunciation of these phrases will enhance your language skills and improve your overall communication in Japanese.

We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into the different ways to say “homework” in Japanese and has helped you improve your language proficiency. Remember to practice and use these phrases in your Japanese conversations to further enhance your skills!

Q: How do you say “homework” in Japanese?

A: The word for “homework” in Japanese is “宿題” (しゅくだい, shukudai).

Q: Are there any other ways to express “homework” in Japanese?

A: Yes, besides “宿題” (しゅくだい, shukudai), you can also use the phrases “宿題をする” (しゅくだいをする, shukudai o suru) which means “to do homework,” or “宿題を出す” (しゅくだいをだす, shukudai o dasu) which means “to assign homework.”

Q: How do you pronounce “宿題”?

A: “宿題” (しゅくだい, shukudai) is pronounced as “shoo-koo-die” in English.

Q: Can you provide an example sentence using the word “宿題”?

A: Sure! An example sentence could be “毎晩、宿題をします” (まいばん、しゅくだいをします, Maiban, shukudai o shimasu) which means “I do homework every night.”

Q: Are there any other words or phrases related to homework in Japanese?

A: Yes, some related words and phrases include “テストの勉強” (てすとのべんきょう, tesuto no benkyou) for “studying for a test” and “レポートを書く” (れぽーとをかく, repooto o kaku) for “writing a report.”

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ばかり (Bakari) vs ところ (Tokoro): Two Ways to Say You "Just" Did Something Recently, You Learned the Difference Between These Two Words

November 15, 2022 • words written by Emily Suvannasankha , Kanae Nakamine , and Sarah Bush • Art by Aya Francisco

How do you describe what you just did in Japanese? Maybe you just brushed your teeth, or you just bought a car. How can you describe those past activities that have just happened?

Well, you've got two great options: ばかり and ところ. Say you want to tell someone that you just bought a car in Japanese. To simply say you "bought a car," it's 車を買った. However, if you want to say it just happened, you can use either ばかり or ところ and say:

  • 車を買ったばかり。 車を買ったところ。
  • I just bought a car.

Both are translated as "I just bought a car" in this case. So do they mean the same thing? The answer is no, and that's why we're writing this article! Beyond what you see in the English translation, there are differences in nuance, and one works better than the other depending on the situation or what you're really trying to say. Which one would you use, for example, if you're keeping someone updated on your whereabouts and you want to let them know you've just finished the errand at the car dealership? How about if someone scratches your new car and you want to scream at them that it's a car you only just bought?

If you're curious, keep reading! In this article, we'll cordially introduce you to each one, explain the personality differences between ばかり and ところ, and help you decide which one to whip out depending on the situation. You just plopped yourself down to read this article anyway, so might as well keep going!

Before going deeper on the subject, we also want to clarify that this article will focus exclusively on using ばかり and ところ when they follow verbs in their past tense to talk about recent happenings, as in 〜たばかり or 〜たところ.

You may have also heard ばっか or ばっかし used instead of ばかり, or とこ instead ところ. These are just casual versions of ばかり and ところ. Examples you see in this article primarily use ばかり and ところ, but know that they're all interchangeable.

Situation #1: "I Just Bought a Car"

Situation #2: "i just got in the taxi", situation #3: "i just finished my homework", ばかり and ところ for things that actually happened a while ago, ばかり for modifying nouns, you just learned.

Prerequisites: This article assumes you already know hiragana and katakana. If you need a refresher, take a look at our Ultimate Hiragana Guide and Ultimate Katakana Guide . To get the most out of this article, make sure you're already familiar with tense in general, especially past tense forms . Bonus points if you're already a little familiar with ところ and ばかり, but don't worry if you don't know too much yet. That's what you're here for!

What Are ばかり and ところ?

First things first: what is ばかり and what is ところ? Before jumping into the differences between them, let's first get to know more about what each does, and what each means.

ばかり originates from the Japanese words for measurement or amount — 計り, 測り, and 量り, all pronounced はかり — and has a few different meanings today. One of those meanings is "just" or "only."

In case you've never seen how ばかり means "just" or "only," here's a quick example. If you want to describe that all someone does is sleep, you can say that they 寝るばかり (only sleeping) and not doing anything else. In the same manner, you can complain that your kid's doing ゲームばかり (only games) all the time. And when it gets used with past tense verbs (which this article is all about), it basically means "this thing happened, and only just a little time has passed since then."

When you think about it, "only" or "just" is subjective. You might think of a glass of water as half empty — there's only this much water — or as half full. It just depends on your point of view.

When ばかり is used to describe a past event, it expresses how something feels like it happened recently to you, the speaker, probably in order to make some kind of point. In that sense, ばかり is pretty subjective in that the actual amount of time that has passed doesn't really matter. You can even use it to describe something you did a while ago — as long as it feels recent to you in that context.

a person saying "It feels like it just happened."

Here's an example. You got your nails done a few days ago, and someone asks you to dig a hole for their pet alligator's funeral. You might indignantly exclaim:

  • でもネイルしに行ったばっかりだよ!
  • But I just got my nails done!

Technically it's not something you just did if it happened a few days ago. However, you can use ばかり here because it still feels recent to you, especially considering this situation where someone's asked you to help them dig a hole in the ground. With these fresh nails? No way!

Actually, you may know what ところ means already. It's the same as 所, a Japanese word for "place" or "location." An important thing to keep in mind here is that ところ doesn't only mean a "place" in the physical sense — it can also mean a "place" in time.

When ところ is used to say what you just did, it's like you're saying, "This thing just happened, and this is where I'm at now." For example, if you just finished drinking some water, you could say this:

  • I just finished drinking.

By saying ところ in this sentence, you're simply pointing to the moment shortly after gulping down water and saying, "Here's where I'm at."

You can actually use other verb tenses with ところ too. It just depends on which stage of the activity you're at, and which one you want to point to!

someone just before, during, and after drinking a glass of water

飲むところ is when you are about to start drinking. 飲む is in the so-called present tense, but it can be used for a future action as well. 飲んでいるところ is when you are in the process of drinking, because as you might know, 飲んでいる is the present continuous form. Then, 飲んだところ is when you have just finished drinking, as 飲んだ is past tense. Using ところ, you are simply reporting where you are in the process: "I'm about to do this," "I'm in the middle of doing this," "I just did this," etc.

Using ところ, you are simply trying to state the fact of where you are on a timeline.

Did you notice how ところ is objective compared to ばかり, which depends on the subjective feeling of recency?

Now, let's take a look at one of the most common examples of how this is used for something that just happened. If you're on your way to meet up with a friend and they ask you where you are, you might say this:

  • Just left the house. ( Literally : I'm at the point where I just left the house.)

In this scenario, you're either literally standing outside your front door, you've only taken a few steps away from it, or maybe you've made it down the street, but not much farther. It's definitely only been a few short seconds/minutes since you ventured into the outside world. And unlike ばかり, it can't only be your feeling that you've just left the house. It's an indisputable fact! They've got security camera footage to prove it and everything.

Now that you get the basic gist of ところ, wanna try making a full sentence with it? Oh yeah, I know you do. So, what if someone wants to know your progress on that report you've been working on?

  • 今レポートを書き終わったところです。
  • I just finished writing the report. ( Literally : I am at the point where I just finished writing the report.)

That's it — nothing more to say, just that the report is done, and you done did it just now. This sentence sounds so neutral and indifferent, you could whip it out to your boss and they wouldn't bat an eyelash. If you wanted to, you could add some emotional color to this statement with extra words or phrases, or even the tone of your voice. But unlike ばかり, ところ is pretty straightforward on its own.

ばかり vs ところ: What's the Difference?

Alright, we've met the subjective ばかり and shaken hands with the more objective ところ. Now, let's review what each one is about before we move onto the nuances of each.

To reemphasize, ばかり is more subjective and can be linked to the speaker's feelings, while ところ is more objective and reports where you're at in "time."

When you want to make a statement about how recent something feels to you, you may want to use ばかり. It doesn't matter when it actually was. Its focus is rather on how little time seems to have passed since, so it adds a subjective feel.

However, when you simply want to specify a point in time to describe what you've just done, you might want to use ところ. You're reporting your status or stage of progress objectively by telling "where you are at" in time. These things have probably literally just happened or you've just done them, and there's not necessarily much feeling involved. Not too hard to grasp, huh?

But just to delve a little deeper, we'll show you examples so that you can compare the two side by side and really see the differences between them.

Comparing the Nuances Between ばかり and ところ

For comparison's sake, let's start with conjuring up some situations where it might be more natural to use one over the other.

Hey, remember the example situation of buying a car we provided at the beginning of this article? It's time to finally find out what the difference is when you use ばかり vs ところ in this scenario.

You now know that ばかり is used when you want to make a slightly stronger statement of how you feel like something "just" happened, whether or not it was particularly recent. You're probably making a point about how you feel about a certain situation. People often use ばかり to say that it's inconvenient/nonsensical for [second thing] to happen, because they feel like [first thing] just recently occurred.

For example, look at this sentence about buying a car.

By saying ばかり, you're putting emphasis on the completed action and how little time you feel has passed since then. You just bought a new car! Maybe someone's pressuring you to buy a new car, but you feel like it's way too soon for that since you just bought your current car a few months ago. Or you scratched the car you bought last year, and it's a shame because you'd hoped to keep it in good condition for much longer. Or perhaps you have to scrap your car, even though you bought it brand new three years ago. Oof!

someone surprised to find their car scratched

See how the actual amount of time that's passed doesn't matter? Sort of like how people say "it feels like only yesterday!" Tossing ばかり into your sentences can have these layered implications about how you feel about the situation, so make sure you're using it intentionally.

On the other hand, you also know that ところ is used when you simply want to state the fact of where you are on a timeline. Unlike ばかり, you're not really putting emphasis on your feelings about the situation or subjectively commenting on the recentness of the event. Instead, you're pinpointing a specific moment in time.

For instance, you could objectively report this about where you are in the car-buying process:

Pretty matter-of-fact! You just bought a car, and that's where you are at. Maybe you bought a car literally just now, and your mom is wondering where you are in the progress of your errands. She texts you 「今どこ?」 ("Where are you?"), and you're reporting, "I'm at a point where I just bought a car." Do you notice how the tone and implication of the sentence varies depending on which one you use?

Here's another slight difference: Because ところ describes a specific point on a timeline, it carries a nuance that following the completed action, there will be another action. For example, saying 車を買ったところ brings up a timeline in the listener's mind – maybe going grocery shopping will be the "next thing" you do after buying the car, which you'll probably tell them in the next breath. But saying 車を買ったばかり doesn't have quite the same effect.

Now let's look at a situation where either one would be okay, but they carry different nuances. Imagine you're texting someone you're meeting up with.

  • タクシーに乗ったところ。
  • I just got in the taxi.

This sentence is simply reporting that you just got in a taxi. It could be a way to tell your friend that you're on your way and give an idea of when you'll arrive. ところ is perfect for keeping someone updated about your whereabouts like this.

  • タクシーに乗ったばかり。
Whether you should throw out a ところ or ばかり really depends on the context and what tone you're trying to convey.

On the other hand, if you used ばかり, it sounds like someone (probably the person you're texting) is rushing you to get to the destination. Maybe they're texting you things like まだ着かないの? ("Are you not here yet?") and you're saying you won't be able to get there as quickly as expected, because it's barely been a minute since you got in the taxi.

See? Technically both mean "I just got in the taxi," but they carry different nuances. While ところ simply reports your progress, ばかり emphasizes how little time has passed based on your feelings.

Here's our final scenario. Your friend's calling to see what you're up to and ask if you want to grab dinner together. You just finished your homework, so you're down to go out for dinner. Which one do you think works better — ところ or ばかり? Depending on your choice, you'll come off differently. Let's first take a look at an example using ところ.

  • いいよ!今宿題が終わったとこ。
  • Sounds good! I just finished my homework (and I'm ready to go out).

a timeline showing they did homework before the current moment, and they are seeing a movie sometime after the current time

ところ works well here as it just simply reports where you're at on a timeline. "But can't you then use ところ when you can't go out for dinner too?" you might ask. Well, you're right. You could use ところ even if you can't go out for dinner — using it to explain that you've just finished your homework and that there's something coming up next in your agenda, for example:

  • 今宿題が終わったところで、これから映画に行くんだ。ごめんね。
  • I just finished my homework, and I'm going to a movie now. Sorry.

See how you can use ところ to lay out your timeline like this? Now, let's look into how ばかり works in this situation.

  • ❓ 1 いいよ!今宿題が終わったばかり。
  • Sounds good! I just finished my homework (and I need to take a breather first).

Using ばかり comes off as unnatural in this situation where you're trying to say "yes" to the invitation. ばかり makes it sound like you need a minute to chill out first or something, because the focus is on how little time you feel has passed since you finished your homework. And if you need some time to relax, you probably wouldn't say "sounds good," right?

But is it okay to use ばかり if the answer was "maybe a little later," you wonder? That's a great guess, because ばかり could actually work in that case. Since the problem with ばかり earlier was that it sounded like you needed a minute for whatever reason, it works great in a sentence like:

  • 今宿題が終わったばかりだから、ちょっと後でもいい?
  • I just finished my homework (and I need to take a breather first), so is it okay if we go a little later?

Up until now, we've said a lot about how ばかり and ところ are used to describe things that have just happened. You just dropped your graphing calculator in the toilet (oops). But time to unleash the whole truth: Both can be used for events that actually happened a while ago, too. Like maybe that poor calculator took the ultimate plunge in 10th grade, and now you're retelling that story. Stay with me! It'll make sense in a minute.

For ばかり, this works when the speaker subjectively feels that it hasn't been much time since the thing happened, but that amount of time is weeks, months, years, etc. And for ところ, this applies when you're telling a story about the past, and you're pointing to where you were on that timeline in the story — often using the past tense ところ だった .

Want to learn more? Alright, let's crack open our good friend ばかり first.

Think about this example situation. If a kid begged their mom to buy them a new phone, the ママ (mama) might retort:

  • 半年前に買ったばっかなのに?
  • Even though I just bought (you a new phone) half a year ago?

This sentence carries a strong emotional tone of "I just bought you a new phone recently, so don't push your luck, squirt!" If this sentence were an emoji, it would be the incredulous one with the raised eyebrow. 🤨

Whether something can be considered "recent" depends on the situation and people's feelings about it.

But back to the main point here — see how the thing that happened wasn't actually that recent, it just feels that way to the speaker? Mama is expressing her opinion that six months is not that long ago to have bought a new phone for the little scamp.

But even so, you probably wouldn't say something like this if the kid's asking for a new sponge, right?

  • Even though I just bought (you a new sponge) half a year ago?

You see how this doesn't make much sense, right? Hopefully you're buying new sponges more often than every six months! So even though ばかり has quite a bit of leeway for subjectivity, there are still some boundaries and contexts where it's just nonsensical to consider an event recent.

But you know what offers a lot less wiggle room? ばかり's counterpart ところ, because only facts matter to ところ. Let's shuffle back to the car dealership and revisit the car-buying example, shall we? Compare these two sentences:

  • 数年前に車を買ったばかりだ
  • I just bought a car a few years ago.
  • ❓数年前に車を買ったところだ
  • I (am currently at the point where I) just bought a car a few years ago.

See how ところ doesn't really make sense in this context? Conceivably, someone could feel that a few years ago is recent, so ばかり can be used. But ところ? Sorry buddy, it just won't fly. Unless you're time traveling, you did not literally "just now" buy a car "a few years ago." That would be pointing to two different points on the timeline at the same time, which is bending the laws of spacetime in a way that the Japanese language doesn't allow!

However, there is a way you can use ところ to talk about things that happened a while ago, and it's when telling a story about the past — pointing to a past moment of where you "were" on the timeline. Try sticking a past tense だった after ところ instead of present tense だ. In this case, maybe someone invited you to join them on a trip a few years ago, but you didn't go. And now, you're explaining what you were up to back when you were invited. You might say…

  • ちょうど車を買ったところ だった ので、お金がなかった。
  • I had just bought a car, so I was broke. ( Literally : It was right at the point when I had just bought a car, so I was broke.)

a timeline from a few years ago when someone was poor and bought a car, to a conversation occuring now

As long as you're describing a specific point in the past and not the present, you can use ところ for things that happened a while ago. It's not recent anymore, but it was recent at some point, and that point is what you're shoving your index finger at when you use ところ this way.

Got it? Good! Let's move on to just one more grammatical difference between ばかり and ところ.

We've only talked about when we use ばかり and ところ to describe recent happenings, like "I just bought a dress." But what if you want to talk about "a dress you just bought," modifying a noun?

  • ワンピースを買ったばかり。 ワンピースを買ったところ。
  • I just bought a dress.

You probably recognize this grammatical pattern from previous examples. When the noun comes first like this, either ばかり or ところ is fine, depending on what vibe you're going for. But if you want to flip the sentence around and start it by saying "The dress I just bought…," ばかり tends to work better most of the time.

  • 買ったばかりのワンピース ❓ 買ったところのワンピース
  • a dress I just bought

Because ばかり focuses on how little time has passed since something happened, it's often used to express how new something feels. Maybe you're saying "The dress I just bought has a hole in it already!" See? It makes sense, since how recently you bought the dress is relevant to the feelings you're expressing about the situation, which is why ばかり is there.

ばかり is often used like this to describe things you've just bought, cleaned, repaired, etc.

On the other hand, ところ simply points to a moment in time. You rarely see ところ being used this way, because the intention to modify nouns is usually to draw attention to how new or fresh something is to you and make a point about that.

People also often use ばかり to describe events that just happened, or someone who just took a particular action, like so:

  • 結婚したばかりのカップル ❓結婚したところのカップル
  • a couple who just got married

Again, this is where ばかり shines — ところ is rarely used this way. You might be about to express feelings about this couple, or at least mention something relevant to how they just got married. Maybe how seeing newlyweds makes you feel happy, or how you're planning to buy a gift for the couple who just got married. So remember, if you're modifying nouns, you're probably going to want to use ばかり.

「ばかり」と「ところ」の違いを学んだところですね。 でも今勉強したばかりだから、まだちょっと難しい?

If you could understand (at least most of) the two sentences above and the different vibes they express, congratulations! You're smarter than you were "just" a few minutes ago.

To sum it up, you can use both ばかり and ところ to describe recent events or actions. But remember, ばかり expresses more subjectivity and feeling about how recently something happened, while ところ gives a more neutral, objective report of where you're at on a timeline. And you can use them to talk about past events too, in some cases.

Hopefully after reading this article, you've found yourself in a slightly smarter ところ in life than you were before!

❓ indicates that the example sentence is not natural-sounding in the given context.  ↩

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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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100+ Useful Japanese Classroom Phrases & Vocabulary

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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”)

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Japanese

  • 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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Translation of “homework” in Japanese

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Everything you want to know about Japan

did you do your homework in japanese

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.

Japanese Snack Box

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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did you do your homework in japanese

Words for I do my homework in Japanese

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Get involved: Should homework be banned?

  • Published 1 day ago
  • comments Comments

child doing homework

Do you think you should have to do homework?

Well primary school children in Poland don't have to do it anymore after the government banned it.

Under the new rules, teachers can't give out compulsory homework - that's homework you have to do - to children aged seven to nine.

Meanwhile any homework given to children aged nine to 14 is optional and won't count towards a grade.

Do you think kids should have to do homework or should schools in the UK ban it like they have in Poland? Take the vote and let us know in the comments.

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If you can't see this vote, click here .

What do children in Poland think of the changes?

Boy doing homework with mum

There are mixed opinions among the children in Poland about the change.

Julian who is 9 said: "I like to do my homework because, after that, I know I will have more time to do other things, when I have done it, I will have time for other things that are also important."

But 11-year-old Ola is celebrating the changes. She loves music and drawing and hopes it means she has more time for her hobbies.

She said: "I am happy because this homework, I did not like it too much.

"It didn't really make much sense because most people in my class, in the morning would copy (it) from someone who has done the homework or would transcribe (it) from some (internet) pages. So, it didn't make sense."

Ola's mum doesn't agree, she said: "I am not very pleased, because it helps the child really remember their lessons, the homework. And helps (parents) stay on top of what the child has really learnt and of life at school."

Why did Poland ban homework?

Barbara Nowacka

The Polish government introduced strict limits on homework from the beginning of April as a way to improve the education system in the country.

The decision was announced by Education Minister, Barbara Nowacka who said: "When I read research regarding the mental health of children, their overload with learning, the reasons of depression, of tensions, stress, or loss of interest in learning, one of the factors, the one that could be removed fastest, was the burden of homework."

Is banning homework a good idea?

Boy doing homework

Not everyone agrees that banning homework is a good idea.

A charity called the Education Endowment Foundation suggests that homework in primary school can help children learn important skills, help get ready for tests and improve the connection between home and school.

We want to know what you think about homework. Let us know in the comments below.

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did you do your homework in japanese

COMMENTS

  1. Mastering the Phrase: How to Say Homework in Japanese

    Another word commonly used for homework in Japanese is 宿題 (shukudai). To pronounce this word, start with "shu" as before, then say "ku" and "dai" as you did previously. The final syllable "kai" is pronounced with a long "i" sound as in the English word "high.". It's important to note that Japanese has different ...

  2. How do you say "Did you do your homework" in Japanese?

    あなたは宿題をやりましたか?|英語でですか?宿題ができましたか?という英語はこれになると思います。Have you done your homework?|宿題をやりましたか?|Were you able homeworkだったら 宿題はできましたか?になると思います。

  3. How to say did you do the homework in Japanese

    Question about Japanese. How to say did you do the homework in Japanese . See a translation Report copyright infringement; Answers ... Do you know how to improve your language skills All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker! With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ️ . ...

  4. ばかり (Bakari) vs ところ (Tokoro)

    How do you describe what you just did in Japanese? Maybe you just brushed your teeth, or you just bought a car. ... You just finished your homework, so you're down to go out for dinner. Which one do you think works better — ところ or ばかり? Depending on your choice, you'll come off differently. Let's first take a look at an example ...

  5. How to say "Homework" in Japanese

    This video demonstrates "How to say Homework in Japanese"Talk with a native teacher on italki: https://foreignlanguage.center/italkiLearn Japnese with Japane...

  6. How to Say Homework in Japanese: A Comprehensive Guide

    Shukudai: This is the most commonly used term for homework in Japanese. It is a straightforward and neutral word that can be used in any context. Gakushu Shukudai: By adding the word "gakushu" before "shukudai," you emphasize that it is a learning-related assignment. Kadai: "課題" is an alternative word for homework that is often ...

  7. How to say "You do your homework." in Japanese.

    Japanese. I do my homework. 私は宿題をします。. You do your homework (formal) あなたは宿題をします。. He does his homework. 彼は宿題をします。. We do our homework. 私たちは宿題をします。.

  8. JLPT N5 Grammar "Did you already do your homework?"| Learn Japanese

    FREE JLPT Grammar List and Example Sentences https://japanasubi-en.com/lp/jlptgrammarlist/1) JLPT N5: 92 Grammar in total 2) JLPT N4: 85 Grammar in total 3)...

  9. Nihongo o Narau

    Lesson 10: I study every day. Click here for the kana version. The word for school is gakkou. Teachers are sensei and students are gakusei (or seito). College is daigaku (literally "big school"). A college student is daigakusei. In order to say what grade you are in, or whether you're a freshman-senior, you say "I'm a --year student."

  10. What is "You do your homework (formal)" in Japanese and how to ...

    Japanese. I do my homework. 私は宿題をします。. You do your homework. あなたは宿題をします。. He does his homework. 彼は宿題をします。. We do our homework. 私たちは宿題をします。.

  11. What is "Homework" in Japanese and how to say it?

    Learn the word for "Homework" and other related vocabulary in Japanese so that you can talk about Study Routine with confidence.

  12. Translate "HOMEWORK" from English into Japanese

    homework. (hoʊmwɜrk ) 1. uncountable noun. Homework is schoolwork that teachers give to students to do at home in the evening or on the weekend. 宿題. Have you done your homework, Gemma? ジェマ,宿題は済んだの?. 2. uncountable noun. If you do your homework, you find out what you need to know in preparation for something.

  13. Japanese translation of 'homework'

    Japanese Translation of "HOMEWORK" | The official Collins English-Japanese Dictionary online. Over 100,000 Japanese translations of English words and phrases.

  14. How to Say Homework in Japanese Hiragana

    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 ...

  15. How do you say "Did you do the homework?" in Japanese?

    How do you say this in Japanese? Did you do the homework? See a translation Report copyright infringement; Answers Close When you "disagree" with an answer. The owner of it will not be notified. Only the user who asked this question will see who disagreed with this answer. OK. Read more comments

  16. HOMEWORK in Japanese

    HOMEWORK translate: 宿題, 宿題(しゅくだい). Learn more in the Cambridge English-Japanese Dictionary.

  17. Best Japanese Phrases to Use in the Classroom

    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.".

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

    Japanese. You do your homework. あなたは宿題をします。. あなたは宿題をします。. He does his homework. 彼は宿題をします。. We do our homework. 私たちは宿題をします。. You all do your homework.

  19. Homework

    1 translation entry available: English: homework: Type: noun: Japanese: 宿題: Hiragana: しゅくだい: Pronunciation: shukudai: Example: Do my homework for me ...

  20. How to say homework in Japanese

    What's the Japanese word for homework? Here's a list of translations. Japanese Translation. 宿題. Shukudai. More Japanese words for homework. 宿題 noun. Shukudai homework.

  21. italki

    since Japanese is long and complicated you have to say. " I don't have homework". homework = 宿題 /しゅくだい (kanji and hiragana) to have= あります/ません (positive/ negative) I don't have homework= 宿題がありません or しゅくだいがありません。 I hope that helped! good luck studying!

  22. Do Japanese students get a lot of homework?

    This article explores the issue of homework in Japan from a historical and modern perspective. It looks 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. Additionally, it discusses the impact of technology on homework in Japan, with an emphasis on potential ...

  23. Top 8 Words for I do my homework in Japanese.

    You may know how to say "I do my homework." in Japanese, but do you know the words for I do my homework? Learn the Top 8 words for I do my homeworkwith their pronunciation.

  24. Get involved: Should homework be banned?

    Under the new rules, teachers can't give out compulsory homework - that's homework you have to do - to children aged seven to nine. Meanwhile any homework given to children aged nine to 14 is ...