Japanese Classroom Phrases: 30 Expressions for Teachers and Students
Whether you are studying Japanese in a classroom, teaching English in Japan, or preparing for school life as an exchange student, the phrases used inside a Japanese classroom follow rigid patterns. The same commands echo through every school in Japan — from elementary school to university. This guide covers teacher commands, student responses, and essential school vocabulary.
Class Opening and Closing Ritual
Every class in Japan begins and ends with the same sequence. The 日直 (にっちょく / daily duty student) leads the class:
| # | Japanese | Reading | English | Who says it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 起立！ | きりつ | Stand up! | 日直 |
| 2 | 礼！ | れい | Bow! | 日直 |
| 3 | おはようございます！ | おはようございます | Good morning! | Everyone (first class) |
| 3b | よろしくお願いします！ | よろしくおねがいします | Please treat us well! (Let's have a good class) | Everyone (other classes) |
| 4 | 着席！ | ちゃくせき | Sit down! | 日直 |
At the end of class:
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| 起立！礼！ | きりつ、れい | Stand up! Bow! |
| ありがとうございました！ | ありがとうございました | Thank you! (for the class) |
Teacher Commands
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| 教科書を開いてください。 | きょうかしょをひらいてください | Please open your textbook. |
| ○○ページを見てください。 | まるまるページをみてください | Please look at page [X]. |
| 繰り返してください。 | くりかえしてください | Please repeat after me. |
| 書いてください。 | かいてください | Please write it down. |
| 読んでください。 | よんでください | Please read it. |
| 聴いてください。 | きいてください | Please listen. |
| 静かにしてください。 | しずかにしてください | Please be quiet. |
| 手を挙げてください。 | てをあげてください | Please raise your hand. |
| ペアを作ってください。 | ペアをつくってください | Please make pairs. |
| 宿題を出してください。 | しゅくだいをだしてください | Please turn in your homework. |
| 黒板を見てください。 | こくばんをみてください | Please look at the blackboard. |
| わかりましたか？ | わかりましたか | Did you understand? / Got it? |
Student Phrases
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| はい、わかりました。 | はい、わかりました | Yes, I understood. |
| すみません、わかりません。 | すみません、わかりません | Sorry, I don't understand. |
| もう一度お願いします。 | もういちどおねがいします | One more time, please. |
| 質問があります。 | しつもんがあります | I have a question. |
| ゆっくり話してください。 | ゆっくりはなしてください | Please speak slowly. |
| すみません、遅れました。 | すみません、おくれました | Sorry, I'm late. |
| トイレに行ってもいいですか？ | トイレにいってもいいですか | May I go to the bathroom? |
| これは日本語で何と言いますか？ | これはにほんごでなんといいますか | How do you say this in Japanese? |
Essential School Vocabulary
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| 教室 | きょうしつ | Classroom |
| 黒板 | こくばん | Blackboard |
| チョーク | チョーク | Chalk |
| 消しゴム | けしゴム | Eraser |
| 教科書 | きょうかしょ | Textbook |
| ノート | ノート | Notebook |
| 宿題 | しゅくだい | Homework |
| 授業 | じゅぎょう | Class / lesson |
| 試験 | しけん | Exam / test |
| 先生 | せんせい | Teacher |
| 生徒 | せいと | Student (middle/high school) |
| 学生 | がくせい | Student (university) |
| 休み時間 | やすみじかん | Break time |
| 給食 | きゅうしょく | School lunch |
| 部活 | ぶかつ | Club activities |
| 体育館 | たいいくかん | Gymnasium |
| 図書室 | としょしつ | Library |
| 運動場 | うんどうじょう | Sports field / playground |
Common Mistakes in Classroom Japanese
- ✗ Saying 教えて to a teacher → ✓ 教えてください. The casual form sounds demanding when speaking to a teacher.
- ✗ Using あなた with a teacher → ✓ 先生. Always address teachers as 先生, never あなた or their family name alone.
- ✗ 私はわからない → ✓ わかりません. Use polite form in the classroom, even if other students use casual.
- ✗ Saying うん to a teacher → ✓ はい. うん is casual confirmation; はい is the proper classroom response.
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For related vocabulary, see our 80 essential school vocabulary words and complete guide to Japanese greetings.
Frequently asked questions
What does 起立、礼、着席 mean?
起立 (きりつ) means "stand up," 礼 (れい) means "bow," and 着席 (ちゃくせき) means "sit down." This three-command sequence opens and closes virtually every class in Japanese schools. The class representative (日直 / にっちょく) calls these out, and all students follow simultaneously. It is a deeply ingrained ritual from elementary school through high school.
How do you say "I don't understand" in Japanese class?
わかりません (wakarimasen) is the standard polite form. In a classroom setting, you can raise your hand and say すみません、わかりません (sumimasen, wakarimasen) — "excuse me, I don’t understand." If you want to ask for repetition, say もう一度お願いします (mou ichido onegai shimasu) — "one more time, please."
What do students say when the teacher enters the room?
When the teacher enters, the class representative (日直) calls 起立 (stand), then 礼 (bow). Students say おはようございます (good morning) for the first class, or よろしくお願いします (please treat us well) for subsequent classes. At the end of class, students bow and say ありがとうございました (thank you).