School & Education

学校がっこうまで自転車じてんしゃで通ってかよっています。

I go to school by bicycle.

Usage 通う (かよう) is the verb for going somewhere regularly — school, work, a gym. 行く is a single trip; 通う is the routine.

Remember it 学 (study) + 校 (a school building). Note the small tsu: がっこう, not がくこう.

教室きょうしつに入るはいると先生せんせいがもう来てきていました。

When I entered the classroom, the teacher had already arrived.

Usage 室 (しつ) marks a room: 教室, 会議室, 試着室, 研究室. と here means 'when I did X, I found that Y'.

Remember it 教 (to teach) + 室 (room). The teaching room.

図書館としょかんで試験しけんの勉強べんきょうをしました。

I studied for the exam at the library.

Usage 図書 (としょ) = books as a collection. The same 図 appears in 地図 (map) and 図表 (charts) — it covers drawings and documents alike.

Remember it 図書 (books) + 館 (a hall). The same 館 as 美術館 and 映画館.

教科書きょうかしょを忘れてわすれて先生せんせいに叱られしかられました。

I forgot my textbook and was told off by the teacher.

Usage 叱られる is the passive of 叱る (to scold), and the person doing it takes に: 先生に叱られる. That passive-of-misfortune is core N3 grammar.

Remember it 教科 (a school subject) + 書 (a book). The book for the subject.

授業中じゅぎょうちゅうにしっかりしっかりノートを取るとることが大切たいせつです。

It's important to take good notes during class.

Usage False friend: ノート is the physical notebook, not a note you jot down — that is メモ. And ノートパソコン means a laptop. ノートを取る = to take notes.

Remember it Clipped from English 'notebook', keeping the first half only.

ペンを貸してかしてもらえますか。

Could you lend me a pen?

Usage 貸してもらえますか is a natural way to ask to borrow something — literally 'could I receive your lending'. Compare 借りてもいいですか.

Remember it From English 'pen', just two mora: ぺ-ん.

鉛筆えんぴつで書いたかいたので、消しゴムけしごむで消せますけせます。

I wrote it in pencil, so I can rub it out.

Usage The writing tool takes で: 鉛筆で書く. 消せます is the potential form of 消す — can erase. Pencils are counted with 本 (ほん).

Remember it 鉛 (lead, the metal) + 筆 (a writing brush). The lead brush.

消しゴムけしごむで間違いまちがいを消してけして、もう一度いちど書きかきました。

I rubbed out the mistake with an eraser and wrote it again.

Usage A hybrid word: Japanese 消し (erasing) plus ゴム from Dutch gom. Such half-native, half-loan compounds are common in Japanese.

Remember it 消す (to erase) + ゴム (rubber). The erasing rubber.

先生せんせいが黒板こくばんに答えこたえを書いてかいてくれました。

The teacher wrote the answer on the blackboard for us.

Usage てくれる marks someone doing something for your benefit. A whiteboard is ホワイトボード, not 白板 — the loanword won that one.

Remember it 黒 (black) + 板 (a board). Exactly what it says.

机つくえの上うえを片付けてかたづけてから勉強べんきょうしました。

I tidied my desk and then studied.

Usage 机 is a desk for working at; テーブル is a table you eat at. 片付ける (かたづける) = to tidy up, a very common everyday verb.

Remember it 机 = 木 (wood) + 几 (a small table). A wooden stand.

椅子いすに座ってすわって先生せんせいの話はなしを聞きききました。

I sat on a chair and listened to the teacher.

Usage 座る takes に for the seat: 椅子に座る. Note 話を聞く = to listen to someone talk, where 話 is the noun form of 話す.

Remember it 椅 = 木 (wood) + 奇. Chairs came to Japan late, so the word feels borrowed from Chinese.

来週らいしゅう試験しけんがあるので、今週こんしゅうは毎日まいにち勉強べんきょうしています。

I have an exam next week, so I'm studying every day this week.

Usage 試験を受ける = to sit an exam. テスト is a smaller class test, and 入試 (にゅうし) is an entrance exam. Both 試 kanji mean 'to try'.

Remember it 試 (to try) + 験 (to test). The same 試 as in 試着 and 試合.

宿題しゅくだいを忘れてわすれて先生せんせいに叱られてしかられてしまいました。

I forgot my homework and ended up being told off by the teacher.

Usage 宿題をする = to do homework, 宿題を出す = to set it. てしまう here adds regret — it happened and I wish it hadn't.

Remember it 宿 (lodging, home) + 題 (a task). The task you take home.

授業じゅぎょうを受けるうけるのが楽しくたのしくなってきました。

I've started enjoying taking classes.

Usage 授業を受ける = to take a class, 授業に出る = to attend. くなってきた marks a gradual change up to now — a useful N3 pattern.

Remember it 授 (to grant, to confer) + 業 (studies). Knowledge being handed over.

休み時間やすみじかんに友達ともだちと校庭こうていで遊びあそびました。

I played with my friends in the schoolyard during break.

Usage 休み時間 is a school break between lessons; 休憩 is a break at work; 昼休み is the lunch break. 校庭 (こうてい) = schoolyard.

Remember it 休み (rest) + 時間 (time). Rest time.

大学だいがくを卒業そつぎょうしたら、海外かいがいで働きはたらきたいです。

After I graduate from university, I want to work overseas.

Usage 卒業する takes を for the school left: 大学を卒業する. Its opposite 入学する takes に. Getting these two backwards is a classic N3 error.

Remember it 卒 (to finish) + 業 (studies). Finishing your studies.

春はるに大学だいがくに入学にゅうがくする予定よていです。

I'm due to start university in spring.

Usage Note the season: the Japanese school year begins in April, not September. 入学式 (にゅうがくしき) is the entrance ceremony, a major family occasion.

Remember it 入 (to enter) + 学 (school). Entering school — with に, unlike 卒業's を.

大学だいがくで経済学けいざいがくを専攻せんこうしています。

I'm majoring in economics at university.

Usage 専攻する (せんこう) = to major in. 学 (がく) turns a field into a discipline: 経済学, 医学, 文学, 心理学.

Remember it 大 (big) + 学 (school). The big school, after all the smaller ones.

高校こうこう時代じだいは野球部やきゅうぶに入ってはいっていました。

In my high school days I was in the baseball club.

Usage 高校 is clipped from 高等学校. 部に入る = to join a club, with に. 〜時代 (じだい) = one's days or era: 学生時代, 子供時代.

Remember it 高 (high) + 校 (school), with the 等学 in the middle dropped.

中学校ちゅうがっこうから英語えいごの勉強べんきょうが始まりはじまります。

English study begins from junior high school.

Usage Japan runs a 6-3-3-4 system: 小学校 six years, 中学校 three, 高校 three, 大学 four. 中学 alone is the common short form.

Remember it 中 (middle) + 学校 (school). The middle school.

小学校しょうがっこうの頃ころ、毎日まいにち楽しくたのしく学校がっこうに通いかよいました。

When I was at primary school, I enjoyed going every day.

Usage 〜の頃 (ころ) = around the time when, used for stretches of the past. Primary pupils are 児童 (じどう), not 生徒 or 学生.

Remember it 小 (small) + 学校 (school). The small school.

幼稚園ようちえんの頃ころの思い出おもいではほとんどほとんどありません。

I have almost no memories from kindergarten.

Usage 幼稚園 is kindergarten run as education; 保育園 (ほいくえん) is daycare for working parents. 思い出 = a memory, from 思い出す.

Remember it 幼稚 (infancy) + 園 (a garden). A garden for infants — the same 園 as 動物園.

父ちちは高校こうこうで数学すうがくの教師きょうしをしています。

My father is a maths teacher at a high school.

Usage 教師 is the name of the profession, used about yourself and on forms; 先生 is a respectful term of address you never apply to yourself.

Remember it 教 (to teach) + 師 (a master). One who has mastered teaching.

卒業式そつぎょうしきで校長こうちょう先生せんせいが話はなしをされました。

The head teacher gave a speech at the graduation ceremony.

Usage Japanese titles stack with 長 (chief): 校長, 社長, 部長, 課長, 店長. Address them as 校長先生, with both titles.

Remember it 校 (school) + 長 (chief). The chief of the school.

午前中ごぜんちゅうの講義こうぎは休講きゅうこうになりました。

This morning's lecture was cancelled.

Usage 講義 is a university lecture; 授業 covers classes at any level. 休講 (きゅうこう) — a cancelled lecture — is a word every student learns fast.

Remember it 講 (to lecture, to expound) + 義 (meaning). Expounding the meaning of something.

毎日まいにち2時間じかん日本語にほんごの勉強べんきょうをしています。

I study Japanese for two hours every day.

Usage Either 日本語を勉強する or 日本語の勉強をする — both work. In shops the same word means a discount: 勉強しますよ.

Remember it 勉 (to exert effort) + 強 (strong). Study literally reads 'force yourself to be strong'.

今学期こんがっきは必修ひっしゅうの単位たんいを落とさないおとさないように頑張がんばります。

This term I'll do my best not to fail any compulsory credits.

Usage 単位 means both a university credit and a unit of measurement. 単位を取る = to earn a credit, 単位を落とす = to fail a module.

Remember it 単 (single) + 位 (rank, place). A single countable place — hence a unit.

来週らいしゅうまでに課題かだいを提出ていしゅつしなければなりません。

I have to hand in the assignment by next week.

Usage 課題 is a set assignment or an issue to be tackled; 宿題 is school homework. In business it means an outstanding problem: 課題を解決する.

Remember it 課 (a section, a lesson) + 題 (a topic). The topic you have been set.

授業じゅぎょうの後あとは必ずかならず復習ふくしゅうするようにしています。

I make a point of always reviewing after class.

Usage 復習 is going back over what you learned; 予習 is preparing before class; 練習 is drilling a skill. All three share 習.

Remember it 復 (to return, to repeat) + 習 (to learn). Going back over it.

予習よしゅうをしておくと授業じゅぎょうがもっと分かりやすくわかりやすくなります。

If you prepare beforehand, class becomes much easier to follow.

Usage ておく = to do something in advance for later benefit — exactly what 予習 means. The 予 family again: 予定, 予約, 予算, 予防.

Remember it 予 (beforehand) + 習 (to learn). Learning it ahead of time.

授業料じゅぎょうりょうは毎月まいつき口座こうざから引き落とされひきおとされます。

The tuition fee is taken from my account every month.

Usage The 料 suffix marks a fee: 授業料, 入場料, 手数料, 送料. 学費 (がくひ) covers the wider cost of studying, not just tuition.

Remember it 授業 (lessons) + 料 (fee). The fee for the lessons.

今回こんかいは不合格ふごうかくでしたが、次つぎは必ずかならず合格ごうかくします。

I failed this time, but I'll definitely pass next time.

Usage 不 negates a noun: 不合格, 不足, 不安, 不便. It is the most productive negative prefix in Japanese and worth spotting on sight.

Remember it 不 (not) + 合格 (passing). Simply the negative of 合格.

今学期こんがっきの成績せいせきは全体的ぜんたいてきに良くよくなりました。

My grades this term have improved overall.

Usage 成績 covers school grades and also business results: 営業成績. 学期 (がっき) = a term or semester, 全体的に = overall.

Remember it 成 (to accomplish) + 績 (achievements). The record of what you accomplished.

奨学金しょうがくきんをもらって大学だいがくに通ってかよっています。

I'm attending university on a scholarship.

Usage Careful — this is not the English 'scholarship'. Most Japanese 奨学金, including the main JASSO ones, are interest-bearing loans that must be repaid.

Remember it 奨 (to encourage) + 学 (study) + 金 (money). Money to encourage study — lent, not given.

部活ぶかつが忙しくていそがしくて毎日まいにち帰りかえりが遅いおそいです。

Club activities keep me busy, so I get home late every day.

Usage Clipped from 部活動. Japanese school clubs demand serious time — daily practice, weekends, holidays — far beyond a Western after-school club.

Remember it 部 (a club, a division) + 活 (activity). The same 部 as in 部下 and 部長.

学校がっこうの年間行事ねんかんぎょうじを確認かくにんしてください。

Please check the school's annual calendar of events.

Usage 行事 is a scheduled formal event; イベント is a casual or commercial one. Note 行 reads ぎょう here, not こう.

Remember it 行 (to carry out) + 事 (a matter). A matter that gets carried out on schedule.

文化祭ぶんかさいではクラスくらすごとに出し物だしものを準備じゅんびします。

At the culture festival, each class prepares a performance or stall.

Usage A major event in Japanese school life: classes run cafes, plays and haunted houses. ごとに = for each, 出し物 (だしもの) = an act or attraction.

Remember it 文化 (culture) + 祭 (festival). The same 祭 as 夏祭り.

体育祭たいいくさいのリレーりれーでクラスくらすが優勝ゆうしょうしました。

Our class won the relay at the sports festival.

Usage Also called 運動会 (うんどうかい), especially at primary level. Whole classes compete as teams, and families come to watch. 優勝する = to win outright.

Remember it 体育 (physical education) + 祭 (festival). The PE festival.

来週らいしゅう遠足えんそくがあるので、お弁当べんとうを作ってつくってもらいました。

There's a school outing next week, so I had a packed lunch made for me.

Usage 遠足 is a one-day school outing; the overnight version is 修学旅行. てもらう marks having someone do something for you.

Remember it 遠 (far) + 足 (foot). Going far on foot — a day out.

修学旅行しゅうがくりょこうで京都きょうとと奈良ならを訪れおとずれました。

We visited Kyoto and Nara on our school trip.

Usage A multi-day trip every Japanese student takes, usually to Kyoto and Nara for the history. 訪れる (おとずれる) = to visit, more formal than 行く.

Remember it 修学 (pursuing study) + 旅行 (travel). Travel undertaken as study.

質しつの高いたかい教育きょういくをすべてのすべての子供こどもに提供ていきょうすることが目標もくひょうです。

The goal is to provide high-quality education to every child.

Usage 教育 is education as a system or policy; 勉強 is the studying you personally do. 質の高い = high-quality, 提供する = to provide.

Remember it 教 (to teach) + 育 (to raise). Teaching and raising together.

幅広いはばひろい知識ちしきを身みにつけることが大切たいせつです。

It's important to acquire a broad range of knowledge.

Usage 身につける = to acquire a skill or knowledge, literally 'to attach to your body' — a set phrase worth memorising whole. 幅広い = wide-ranging.

Remember it 知 (to know) + 識 (discernment). The same 知 as 知る and 知り合い.