How to say "class" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe everyday word for a school class: the group of students taught together, or a class session you attend. Fits 'the whole class was quiet' or 'English class'.
- 組くみnoun, noun (suffix)The class as the group of pupils assigned together at school — the unit you belong to, often numbered within a year. Use it for 'which class are you in?', not for the lesson.
- 授業じゅぎょうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbClass or lesson as an activity: the scheduled teaching and learning itself. This is the word for having, attending, or skipping class, and for what a teacher does in the classroom.
- 級きゅうnoun, counterMainly a school grade or year, or a rank. As 'class' it works only for ranked levels, and it is not the word for a group of students or a lesson.
- 階層かいそうnounClass in the social sense: a stratum of society, as in 'social class' or 'the upper class'. Also a layer or level within a structure or hierarchy; never a school class.
Use 「クラス」 for a school class or session, 組 for the group of students you belong to, 授業 for class as a lesson or activity, 級 for grades and ranks, and 階層 for social class.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- クラスclass
- 組くみclass (of students)
- 授業じゅぎょうlesson
- 級きゅう(school) grade
- 階層かいそうclass
- 部類ぶるいclass
- 等級とうきゅうgrade
- レベルlevel
- 品ひんelegance
- 類るいkind
- 部門ぶもんdivision (of a larger group)
- 等とうclass
- 綱こうclass
- 講習会こうしゅうかいclass
- 並び称するならびしょうするto class (one thing with another)
- 伍ごcompany
- 位取りくらいどりgrade
- 種しゅkind
- 粋作りいきづくりstylishness (esp. of a woman working at a nightclub, etc.)
- 階級かいきゅう(social) class
- 学級がっきゅう(school) class
- 時間じかんperiod
- 教室きょうしつclass
- 流りゅうclass
- 段だんgrade
- 位くらいsocial standing
- 層そうclass
- アロマclass
- 部ぶcategory
- 枠わくcategory
See also
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