what does homework mean in japanese

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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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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How to Say Homework in Japanese: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to our guide on how to say “homework” in Japanese! Whether you are a student looking to communicate with Japanese classmates or simply interested in expanding your vocabulary, this article will provide you with formal and informal ways to express this concept. We will also explore regional variations, share useful tips, and provide plenty of examples to help you grasp the nuances of this term. Let’s dive in!

Informal Ways to Say Homework

In everyday casual conversations, the Japanese language offers a few expressions for referring to homework. These include:

• Kudamono : This informal term is derived from “くだもの,” which means “fruit” in Japanese. While it literally translates to “fruit,” it is used colloquially by some younger individuals to refer to homework.
• Benkyou no shuu : “勉強の週,” or “study week” in English, is another common informal phrase to describe homework. It implies a period of time dedicated to studying and completing assignments.

Example sentences:

“明日の授業のために、くだものが山ほどあります。” (For tomorrow’s class, I have a mountain of homework.) “この週末は、勉強の週を過ごそうと思います。” (I am planning to spend this weekend doing my homework.)

Formal Ways to Say Homework

If you are in a more formal setting, it is important to use suitable language. Below are some formal ways to express the idea of homework:

• 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 used in academic settings. It signifies assignments or tasks given by teachers for students to complete outside of class.

“毎晩、しゅくだいをするのは大変ですが、頑張ります。” (Doing homework every night is tough, but I will do my best.) “学習しゅくだいを提出するのを忘れないようにしましょう。” (Let’s make sure not to forget to submit our learning assignments.) “今夜の宿題は数学のレポートを書くことです。” (Tonight’s homework is to write a math report.)

Regional Variations

While the terms mentioned above are universally understood throughout Japan, there may be regional variations in pronunciation or colloquialism. However, such variations are minimal when it comes to the word “homework.” Thus, it is not necessary to focus on regional differences for this specific term.

Tips for Expressing Homework

Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when discussing homework in Japanese:

• When in doubt, using the term “shukudai” is always a safe option. It is widely recognized and understood across all settings.
• If you feel more comfortable with an informal group, you can opt for “kudamono” or “benkyou no shuu.”
• Remember to adjust your language based on the formality of the situation. Using formal language in academic and professional environments shows respect and politeness.
• Practice using different words for homework to diversify your vocabulary and become more fluent in Japanese.

By following these tips, you will be able to navigate various situations confidently and effectively convey the concept of homework in Japanese.

Congratulations! You now have a comprehensive understanding of how to say “homework” in Japanese. From informal expressions like “kudamono” and “benkyou no shuu” to formal terms like “shukudai” and “kadai,” you can choose the most appropriate word based on the context and level of formality. Remember to adapt your language to the situation and always aim for clear and polite communication. With practice, you will continue to enhance your Japanese language skills. Ganbatte kudasai (Good luck)!

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Japanese translation of 'homework'

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

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How to say homework in Japanese

• homework ; assignment
• pending issue; unresolved problem; open question

Example Sentences

© Based on JMdict , KANJIDIC2 , and JMnedict , property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group , used in conformance with the Group's licence . Example sentences from the Tatoeba project (CC BY 2.0). Kanji stroke order data from the KanjiVG project by Ulrich Apel (CC BY-SA 3.0). See comprehensive list of data sources for more info.

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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. 

Head to our contact page for a free level check and consultation !

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• An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese by Akira Miura & Naomi Hanaoka McGloi, revised edition © 2008, The Japan Times
• Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese by Eri Banno, et al, 2nd edition © 2011, The Japan Times
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• A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar by Seiichi Makino & Michio Tsutsui © 1986 & 1989, The Japan Times
• A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar by Seiichi Makino & Michio Tsutsui © 1995 & 1996, The Japan Times

Japanese Particles Guide: Wa, Ni, Ga and More!

Japanese particles are small words that indicate relations of words within a sentence. Most Japanese learners are not fond of particles and most teachers don’t make things easier. If you have trouble keeping all the particles straight, this guide will be illuminating and explain how to use them perfectly. Take on the quiz at the end of this guide to test your understanding of Japanese Particles!

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How to use Japanese Particles?

は (wa) follows the topic the speaker wants to talk about. Therefore, wa（は）is often called topic marking particle. The “topic” is often the grammatical subject, but can be anything (including the grammatical object, and sometimes the verb), and it may also follow some other particles.

[ A ] wa [ B ] desu. = [ A ] is [ B ].

昨日 は 雨だった。 Kinō wa ame datta. It was rainy yesterday

Check the Grammar Bank for More Examples Now

を (o) marks the grammatical object of a sentence. It follows nouns and noun phrases.

Noun + o (を) + verb

私はチョコ を 食べます。 Watashi wa choko o tabemasu. I eat chocolate.

も (mo) functions as “also” or “too” in English. It is used to indicate that something which has previously been stated also holds true for the item currently under discussion. It replaces ga, wa or o when used.

[Object1] は [property1/action1] です [Object2] も [property1/action1] です.

A: 私はフランス人です。 Watashi wa furansujin desu. I am French. B: 私 も フランス人です。 Watashi mo furansujin desu. I am also French.

に (ni) indicates a place towards which someone or something moves. It is preceded by the name of the place and followed by a verb that indicates a moving action such as iku (行く) “to go.” It is also used with giving/receiving verbs and can then mean “from”. In the case of passive verbs, it marks the grammatical agent, making it the same as “by” in English. (i.e. “my wallet was stolen by my brother.” ). に is also used to indicate the location of existence when combined with the verbs いる or ある, making it the Japanese version of “at” (in some instances).

place + ni (に)

学校 に 行きます。 Gakkō ni ikimasu. I go to school.

へ (e) is basically the same as に, except it emphasizes direction over arrival. The main difference is usage. へ is never used as “from”, “by”, “at”. In addition, the particle の can follow the へ particle directly, whereas it cannot follow に.

location/direction + e(へ)

彼 へ 手紙を送りました。 Kare e tegami o okurimasita. I sent him a letter.

で (de) is used to indicate the location of an action. The performer of the action (the subject) is followed by either of the particles wa or ga, and the place is followed by de. However, it can’t be used with with the verbs いる or ある.

location + de (で)

私は家 で 本を読みます。 Watashi wa ie de hon o yomimasu. I read books at home.

が (ga) marks the grammatical subject of a sentence when it is first introduced to a conversation. It can also be used to join sentences, like the word “but,” though that が is technically a different word. The particle が can also be used to emphasize the subject or distinguish it from others. While は is used when a question word (who, where, etc.) comes after the topic in the sentence (レストラン は どこですか。), we use the particle が when the question word is the subject or part of it.

だれ が 来ますか。 Dare ga kimasu ka. Who will come?

から (kara) indicates the source of an object or action. This starting position may be either a point in space (in which case it is translated as “from”), or a point in time (in which case it is translated as “since” or “after”).

Noun + kara (から)

学校 から 家までどれくらいかかりますか。 Gakkō kara ie made dorekurai kakarimasu ka? How long does it take you to get home from school?

まで (made) indicates that an action/effect extends or reaches a specified limit or a point in time or space. It is therefore equivalent to the English expression “until.”

Noun + made (まで)

彼女と７時 まで ドライブしました。 Kanojo to shichi-ji made doraibu shimashita. I went driving around with my girlfriend until 7 o’clock.

と (to) is used to join nouns together into an exhaustive list that functions as a single noun: ”with,” “and.” It’s also the particle used to indicate a direct quote (from someone’s mind or speech), functioning like quotation marks in English.

Noun + to (と) + Noun

肉 と 魚が好きです。 Niku to sakana ga suki desu. I like meat and fish.

や (ya) is used in the same way as the first sense of と, but the list is not exhaustive. It means “such things as A, B, and C.”

赤 や 黄色の花が咲いていた。 Aka ya kīro no hana ga saiteita. There were red, yellow, and other color flowers blooming.

の (no) indicates possession (functioning like the English “apostrophe-S”). In the structure A no B, B belongs to A, however, many nouns act like adjectives when followed by no. It directly follows nouns and noun phrases.

Object1 + の + Object2

あなた の 名前はなんですか。 Anata no namae wa nan desuka? What’s your name?

ね (ne) is used at the end of sentences, basically in the same way as an English tag question. If said with rising intonation, it indicates a request for confirmation from the listener (i.e., “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” ), whereas if said with falling intonation, it’s used as a rhetorical device (i.e., “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it.” )

End of the sentence + ne (ね)

これは美味しいです ね 。 Kore wa oishii desu ne . This is delicious, isn’t it?

よ (yo) is used by the speaker to express a strong conviction about something or to emphatically declare something.

End of the sentence + yo (よ)

明日私は行く よ 。 Ashita Watashi wa iku yo . I’ll go tomorrow!

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In this lesson you learned how to use those Japanese Particles:

How well do you know japanese particles.

The Japanese volitional form (~しよう、〜しましょう): much more than just “Let’s”

This time I’d like to focus on the volitional form in Japanese which an important pattern often used in both written and spoken speech.

Many times I have seen this form introduced to beginner students of Japanese as meaning “Let’s …”, and while this is one of the common usages there are several more. I first learned this myself as simply “Let’s”, but when I came to sentences where this didn’t apply I was confused at first. So I’d like to lay out all the main uses of this form to avoid any problems.

In case you’re not too familiar with the english word volitional , I’ll quote one of the definitions for it from Dictionary.com:

Volitional –  the   act   of   willing,   choosing,   or   resolving;   exercise   of   willing.

The other definitions also relate in some way or another to the idea of a person’s  will . It may be easier to think of this as related to someone’s intention, or a decision someone has made.

I’ll go over the verb conjugation rules briefly for those who are new to this grammatical form:

• ーます　＝＞　ーましょう  [たべます　＝＞　たべましょう]
• Verb ending with a single う:       …う　＝＞ …おう   [かう＝＞かおう]
• Verb ending with a character that contains a ‘う’ sound (く／す／つ／ぬ／ふ／む／ゆ／る）: replace the う sound with the お version of that same sound , and add う  [あるく＝＞あるこう]    [かつ＝＞かとう]

You can see more examples of conjugation here .

Use 1: When making a suggestion to one or more people which includes oneself (“Let’s” / “Shall we”)

This is the common case I mentioned above that is often taught first because it translates well to English and is easy to use in daily life.

The volitional form can be used either as a direct suggestion, or more as a question. First let’s look at a direct suggestion.

• Let’s eat.

You can add a “ね” after this form to impart a sense of friendliness, or a “よ” to give an stronger sense of urgency or emphasis.

• Let’s eat already.

If you use the same phrasing (without the “ね” or “よ”) you can change your tone to that of a question in order to be less pushy and imply the listener has more of a choice in the matter.

• Shall we eat?

You an also add a “か” to the end of this phrase, without a major change in meaning (it’s sounds slightly more formal to me though). Sometimes the う at the end can be shortened to a small tsu (っ） as in “食べよっか”, which has a casual feeling.

Use 2: When making a suggestion to one or more people which doesn’t include oneself.

You can use the volitional form even if the speaker is not included in the action. For example I recently heard the similar line in a drama, said by a bartender to a customer who had just entered the restaurant:

• Why don’t you sit down.

Depending on the situation, you could possibly use the “Let’s” form, because in English this can be used in cases where the speaker is not included (Ex: “Ok, let’s calm down now”)

Use 3: Talking about your intention/will without including others

In this case you are talking about your intention or will to do something that doesn’t involve others. It can either be an informal declaration to others nearby, or you could just be talking to yourself.

• (I think) I’ll take a walk now.

The English translation doesn’t really capture the entire connotation of the Japanese text here, but adding “I think” help’s get a bit closer.

It’s important to differentiate this usage from the normal non-past form (する), because that form has more certainty. For example:

• I will take a walk now.

Rather than emphasizing one’s decision or will to do an action, this dryly announces you are going to perform a certain action. It has a certain objective feel to it.

Use 4: Trying to decide between several options. 

In this usage, rather than making a specific suggestion or declaration, you are instead expressing that you’re debating between several options.

This form can be used when you are thinking out loud, as in the following example. The “かな” used at the end signifies something is being actively thought about, and often the な sound is drawn out (written as “な〜”)to emphasize this.

• Which movie should I watch…

The “にする”  expression, which means to decide something, is often used together with the volitional form:

• I wonder which flavor I should pick.  (or “Which flavor should I pick…”)

Use 5: Offering to do a favor for someone

This usage is similar to the first one (making a suggestion to someone), except that you’re offering to help another person or do a favor for them.

• Shall I help ?

This example could also be also translated as “Let me help you” or “I’ll help”.

It’s very common to use the 〜てあげる form along with the volitional form for a more direct implication of helping someone.

• 手伝ってあげましょうか？

Use 6: Volitional + と思う to express thinking about something

This form is used when you want to talk about the fact you have a certain will or intention, without actually making an offer to someone directly. The 思う verb can be in various different tenses or even in the middle of a sentence.

• 図書館に行こうと思ってる。
• I’ve been thinking of going to the library.

Here is an example of someone talking about a past volition (intention).

• その雑誌を買おうと思ってたんだけど、高いからやめた。
• I was thinking of buying that magazine, but since it’s expensive I changed my mind.

Use 7: Volitional + と + decision verb

This form is used to express deciding about something either in the future or past.

• 大会に出ようと決めた。
• I decided to participate in the competition.

You can replace the verb 決める (to decide) with other similar verbs such as “決心する”.

A related expression is  “Verb (dictionary form) + ことに + decision verb” which has roughly the same meaning.

• 大会に出ることに決めた。

Use 8: Volitional + とする to express trying something

This form is used when you make an effort to do something. In some ways it is similar to the  “〜てみる” form, except it seems to be used more often when something didn’t work out or if you are still trying it. Conversely I haven’t seen it used frequently for the present tense (i.e. “しようとする”).

• １マイル走ろうとした。
• I tried to run a mile.

You can use this form when talking about someone else’s attempt at something.

• 何をしようとしてるの？
• What are you trying to do?

It may help to think of this form as meaning “Make an effort to do ~”, whereas ”〜てみる” means “Try and see what happens”, with an emphasis on an uncertain outcome.

Use 9: Volitional + が + …

There are several ways to use this form, but here I’ll just talk about the most common one I’ve seen using “自由” (freedom).

• あなたが何をしようが自由です。
• You’re free to do whatever you like.

In this case the part of the sentence before the が is treated like a noun phrase that is described by the part after the が。

You can stack two different actions to express freedom to choose either one, as in this example:

• あなたが辞めろうが続けようが自由です。
• You’re free to quit or continue as you like.

In both of these cases you’ll see the volitional form is focusing on the subjects ability to choose something.

Use 10: Volitional + が + verb (dictionary form) + まい + が   

This form is used when you want to express “whether you to do X or don’t do X…”.

• 信じようが信じまいがどうでもいい。
• I don’t care whether you believe or not.

I have mostly seen this form used in written, formal Japanese.　(信じまい can also be written as 信じるまい)

I won’t give a detailed discussion of the “まい” form in this post, but adding ”まい” to a verb in the dictionary form roughly means the negative of that. For example, “ある + まい” = “ない”  .

If you are interested in taking my latest mini-quiz on basic Japanese particles, please try it out here:  testmoz.com/449328

1) The volitional form can also used together with the ~ている form to represent an intention or will to continually do something, as in this example:

• ボールを見ていようね。
• Let’s keep watching the ball.

Just as 〜ている is often shortened to 〜てる, ~ていよう is often shortened as 〜てよう。

2) If you want to express a will to not do something, you can use the “negative verb form + で + いよう” pattern.

• 今日は何もしないでいよう。
• Let’s not do anything today.

3) I have seen the words だろう and でしょうalso categorized as volitional, and though they may have the same linguistic origin I suggest treating them as completely separate to avoid confusion. I have written a post about these words here .

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/volitional

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_verb_conjugation#Volitional_.28Presumptive.2C_Hortative.29

http://selftaughtjapanese.com/2014/02/19/でしょう-だろう-deshoudarou-in-japanese/

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42 thoughts on “ The Japanese volitional form (~しよう、〜しましょう): much more than just “Let’s” ”

…on this site…i’m in heaven…ahhhh Might I ask, how do you manage to find the time to study so intensely as it seems you have done? And where do you manage to find the information for things like this? You sound very experienced which is fascinating… I wish I could study all day every day. I hope you keep putting up brilliant posts and great explanations like this. Thank you!

Thanks for the compliments, they are very motivating.

As to how I have been studying, I’ve written a few posts about that, especially in the first quarter or so of my 200+ posts.

But in general I would say I only study 2-3 hours a day at max, however I have done it consistently for over 15 years, with only a few breaks longer than a month. In Japanese this is called 地道。

Read as many of my other posts as you like, but if you have any specific questions feel free to ask anytime.

Hi, I wanted to ask what if I want to tranzlate this sentence to japanese … ゛after that time, Idecided that I don’t want to see him again by any means.＾ (その時までは、二回決して彼に見たくまい決めた。)

I think it is wrong to addたいbut i dont know how to express the sentence above lit. ?can you answer me please

I wrote a short article about your question here:

http://selftaughtjapanese.com/2015/05/02/translation-request-from-a-reader/

Greetings from Malaysia! I just want to thank you for the great article. This is definitely an underrated site.

Thanks for the kind words! If you ever need any help with Japanese grammar please let me know.

I’m not sure if you still reply to these since the last post was half a year ago here. But I had a question

What happens when you have a volitional verb and か without the な at the end as in 『何を書こうか』と考えています。　

Without the ”な” the meaning is essentially the same, but sounds a little more formal to me than “かな”

が as in あなたが何をしようが is not a case particle for a noun phrase, it’s a conjunction (“but”).

Thanks for the post. You mean similar to “何をしても”?

And 信じるまい should be 信じまい. (Sorry for dividing posts)

I checked this with a Japanese person and 信じるまい is correct. However, you are right that 信じまい is more common.

I checked this with a Japanese person and 信じるまい is correct. However, you are right that 信じまい is more common. But I modified the post to reflect this.

Oops, 信じるまい is correct when you think carefully. I just intuitively wrote it. Sorry.

Hi. Could you help me out with this. From all the classifications you provided which one describes this phrase? もう一度あの場所で君の隣にいよう。

It’s a part in a song and, while I get the idea I’m not able to fully comprehend the use of the volitional form in いよう. Because of the so many uses the Japanese have given to that form it is a bit tricky to get some of its usages.

While you may not see the verb いよう too often, it is the volitional form of “to be” for animate objects（居る).

Rather thank saying “Let’s together…”, because of the “君の隣に” part, I would say this is close to “Use 3”, which means he is describing his intention.

You can translate this roughly as something like “I’ll stay at your side once more in that special place”.

Make sense?

I’m sorry for replying so late.

It makes sense now.

By the way, usages number 3 and 6 sound almost identical, are they actually the same in meaning/intention?

Thanks for your help.

Sorry for the late response!

#3 is more like you are thinking/talking to yourself (I’ll go for a walk…), whereas #6 is more like you are telling someone else (I am thinking of going for a walk). The pattern in #3 can also mean a suggestion to someone, where as when you use と思う (like #6) it would not be interpreted as a suggestion.

However, can u please explain this one? 保護しましょうか I want to know whats the different btween ましょうか and しましょうか??

しましょうか is just the volitional form of する plus the question particle か, and the sentence you gave can mean “Shall I protect you?”. 〜ましょうか would be added to the pre-masu form (ex: 食べ), whereas しましょうか is a verb on it’s own.

Please excuse this comment if it’s been discussed, but I can’t seem to grasp the spelling difference between しよう しょう Can you help explain when I would use the “shiyo” vs “sho” spelling

Each type of verb ending has a different volitional form. する（including verbs like 勉強する）conjugate as しよう。However, the polite 〜ます　ending (like します and たべます) conjugates as ~ましょう (ex: しましょう, たべましょう).

Does this help?

Thank you so much! That was very clear to understand

thanks, i was trying to figure this sentence out:

彼女は若さを保とうと必死だ。 She’s desperately trying to retain her youth.

i guess 保とうと means trying to do (trying to retain), right?

Yes, that indicates her intention. I think the sentence you mentioned is sort of a short or abbreviated form. You might understand it better as 彼女は若さを必死で保とうとしてる.

Wow, I’ve never read such an in depth article on the Japanese volitional form. Great job!

I, like most people I imagine, learned that it can be used to mean “let’s do this” or even “shall we do this” like you mentioned, but it gets used a lot more than just those situations in dialog, which can lead to some confusion. Thanks!

Glad to be of help (:

As far as I know, the fifth form of a verb also means a rude, informal order or command. An imperative. But it’s written only with ‘o’ vowel, wiihout ‘u’.

So, does it mean, that ‘o + u’ combination is exclusively reserved for the volitional form and conjectures and never used for command?

I think the rough command form you are talking about is completely unrelated to the volitional form. Examples would be する＝＞しろ、食べる＝＞食べろ, 歩く＝＞歩け。

Do you have an article talking about that “rude form” (しろ)? We heard a lot of this one at fiction, especially the famous 確りしろ…

I haven’t written one yet, sorry. For now, you can use this: https://wtawa.people.amherst.edu/jvrules/index.php?form=imperative

By the way, I am not sure what 確りしろ　means. Maybe you meant 確認（かくにん）しろ

Thanks for the link. It’s clear now that imperative part.

And as for the 確りしろ, it’s right. It’s しっかりしろ, translated as “Hang in there”, “Cheer up!”, “Keep going” and so on…

Very comprehensive, and comprehensible! Thank you.

Thanks for the comment. Glad it was helpful!

So, basically, よう is as if you were saying “I intend to do _______, I have the intention of doing ______, I have this in mind that I want to do, etc?

That is true, however it can also be used when suggesting “let’s” do something to another person, so it’s hard to pin down to a single meaning. Also, saying “I intend to ~” is often used in the form “~ようと思う” (ex: 買おうと思う）as opposed to just “~よう”

Man… what a blog you have! That’s why I love to google some Japanese expressions not easily found around there and almost always we stumble across such hidden gems like your page…

To me, as a self-taught Japanese (and languages, actually) learner, comes really in handy!

Thanks. Very useful this article.

Thanks! Glad it was helpful (:

I was stuck at the ‘let’s/shall we…?’ usage and couldn’t explain how a lot of sentences worked. .. thanks you so much for this!!!

Hi there, great site, thank you! I’m struggling to understand this part of “Use 7”; you refer to ように but you seem to have used ことに instead?

“A related expression is “Verb (dictionary form) + ように + decision verb” which has roughly the same meaning.

大会に出ることに決めた。 I decided to participate in the competition.”

Hello Roger, thanks for reading my site and for the comment!

You have found a typo, ように should be ことに in the sentence you quoted. I have fixed the article to reflect this.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

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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