- Daily Expressions Used in School Settings
- Talking About Attendance, Absence, and Arriving Late
- Marking Student Presence and Participation
- Common Japanese Classroom Objects
- Essential Japanese Phrases for the Classroom
- School Subjects and Terms in Japanese
- People and Roles in a Japanese Classroom
- Classroom Verbs & Actions in Japanese
If you're learning Japanese or planning to attend school in Japan, knowing Japanese classroom vocabulary is a must. These words and expressions will help you interact with teachers, classmates, and learning materials confidently.
Daily Expressions Used in School Settings
These greetings and common phrases set the tone for classroom communication in Japan:
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
Good morning |
おはようございます |
Ohayou gozaimasu |
Hello |
こんにちは |
Konnichiwa |
Goodbye |
さようなら |
Sayounara |
Let’s start the class |
授業を始めましょう |
Jugyou o hajimemashou |
Let’s end the class |
授業を終わりましょう |
Jugyou o owarimashou |
Please be quiet |
静かにしてください |
Shizuka ni shite kudasai |
Are you here today? |
出席ですか? |
Shusseki desu ka? |
Raise your hand |
手を挙げてください |
Te o agete kudasai |
Stand up |
立ってください |
Tatte kudasai |
Sit down |
座ってください |
Suwatte kudasai |
You’re begginer? Want to explore more? Visit our website post about Core Japanese Vocabulary
Talking About Attendance, Absence, and Arriving Late
Use these terms and sentences to manage or explain your school presence:
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
I will be absent |
欠席します |
Kesseki shimasu |
I’m running late |
遅れます |
Okuremasu |
I need to leave early |
早退します |
Soutai shimasu |
I’m feeling unwell |
病気です |
Byouki desu |
I had personal matters |
家族の都合がありました |
Kazoku no tsugou ga arimashita |
Marking Student Presence and Participation
Vocabulary commonly used for checking student status:
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
Attendance list |
出席表 |
Shussekihyou |
Present |
出席 |
Shusseki |
Absent |
欠席 |
Kesseki |
Tardy |
遅刻 |
Chikoku |
Leaving early |
早退 |
Soutai |
Common Japanese Classroom Objects
These are must-know nouns that describe tools, items, and objects you'll find in any Japanese classroom:
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
Desk |
机 |
Tsukue |
Chair |
椅子 |
Isu |
Blackboard |
黒板 |
Kokuban |
Whiteboard |
ホワイトボード |
Howaitobōdo |
Chalk |
チョーク |
Chōku |
Notebook |
ノート |
Nōto |
Pencil |
鉛筆 |
Enpitsu |
Eraser |
消しゴム |
Keshigomu |
Textbook |
教科書 |
Kyoukasho |
Bag |
かばん |
Kaban |
🧠 Tip: Use these in context — “ノートをください” (Nōto o kudasai) = Please give me the notebook.
Essential Japanese Phrases for the Classroom
Here are must-learn phrases and classroom expressions to use with teachers and classmates:
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
What does this mean? |
これはどういう意味ですか? |
Kore wa dou iu imi desu ka? |
I don't understand |
分かりません |
Wakarimasen |
Please repeat it |
もう一度言ってください |
Mou ichido itte kudasai |
I forgot |
忘れました |
Wasuremashita |
May I go to the bathroom? |
トイレに行ってもいいですか? |
Toire ni itte mo ii desu ka? |
🗯️ These phrases are great for maintaining smooth communication in class.
School Subjects and Terms in Japanese
Learning subject names will help you follow class schedules and conversations about school.
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
Math |
数学 |
Suugaku |
Science |
理科 |
Rika |
English |
英語 |
Eigo |
Japanese |
国語 |
Kokugo |
History |
歴史 |
Rekishi |
Geography |
地理 |
Chiri |
Art |
美術 |
Bijutsu |
Music |
音楽 |
Ongaku |
PE |
体育 |
Taiiku |
Homeroom |
ホームルーム |
Hōmurūmu |
📝 “今日は数学があります” (Kyou wa suugaku ga arimasu) = We have math today.
People and Roles in a Japanese Classroom
Get to know who’s who in the classroom with these key people terms:
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
Teacher |
先生 |
Sensei |
Student |
生徒 |
Seito |
Classmate |
クラスメート |
Kurasumēto |
Principal |
校長先生 |
Kouchou sensei |
Vice Principal |
教頭先生 |
Kyoutou sensei |
Substitute Teacher |
代わりの先生 |
Kawari no sensei |
Librarian |
司書 |
Shisho |
Counselor |
カウンセラー |
Kaunserā |
School Nurse |
保健の先生 |
Hoken no sensei |
Janitor |
用務員 |
Youmuin |
📚 E.g. “ページ三を見てください” (Pēji san o mite kudasai) = Please look at page 3.
Classroom Verbs & Actions in Japanese
These classroom-specific verbs will help you describe actions happening in class.
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
To read |
読む |
Yomu |
To write |
書く |
Kaku |
To listen |
聞く |
Kiku |
To speak |
話す |
Hanasu |
To ask |
質問する |
Shitsumon suru |
To study |
勉強する |
Benkyou suru |
To remember |
覚える |
Oboeru |
To erase |
消す |
Kesu |
To raise hand |
手を挙げる |
Te o ageru |
To submit |
提出する |
Teishutsu suru |
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