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55+ Japanese Classroom Vocabulary: Speak Like a Native in School

Table of Contents
  •  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

Daily expression

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

Common class objects

These are must-know nouns that describe tools, items, and objects you'll find in any Japanese classroom:

English

Japanese

Romaji

Desk

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

Classroom phrases

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

People in a 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

Classsroom verbs

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

 

Enjoyed this guide on Japanese classroom vocabulary?
🔁 Share it with your study group or on social media!
💬 Have questions or more phrases to add? Drop a comment below!

 

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