How to say "course" in Japanese

• コースJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe everyday loanword for a course as a route or trail to be followed, such as a running course; it is also used for a set course of a meal.
  車くるまはコースをはずれた。↗

  The car veered from its course.
• 講座こうざCommon
  nounThe word for a course in the educational sense: a series of lectures or classes on a subject, such as a university lecture course or a class you enroll in.
  この講座こうざでは応急手当おうきゅうてあての基本的きほんてきな技能ぎのうを教おしえます。↗

  This course teaches basic skills in first aid.
• 方針ほうしんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounHere 'course' means a course of action: the line or direction a person or organization decides to follow. For most other senses of 'course' this is not the word you want.
  方針ほうしんは２つの意見いけんの間あいだをあれこれとぐらついた。↗

  The policy fluctuated between two opinions.
• 過程かていJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounCovers 'course' in the sense of a process unfolding over time — the course of development, negotiation, or history. It is really 'process', so it fits only this abstract sense.
  その過程かていを彼かれに説明せつめいした。↗

  I explained the process to him.
• 経路けいろJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe course or route something actually travels along, or a channel through which something passes — the course of a storm, the route of an infection. Closer to 'route' or 'path' than to 'course' generally.
  彼かれは１人ひとりで飛とぶことに慣なれていた。そして彼かれは想像そうぞうの中なかで何度なんどもこの経路けいろを飛とんでいたのだ。↗

  He was accustomed to flying alone, and he had flown this route in his imagination many times.

Use 「コース」 for a course as a route or set program, 講座 for a course of lectures, 方針 for a course of action, 過程 for the course a process takes, and 経路 for the path or channel something travels.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• コースcourse
• 講座こうざcourse (e.g. of lectures)
• 方針ほうしんpolicy
• 過程かていprocess
• 経路けいろcourse
• 課程かていcourse
• 成り行きなりゆきcourse (of events)
• 科目かもく(school) subject
• 進路しんろroute
• 航路こうろ(air or sea) route
• 行程こうていjourney
• 針路しんろcourse
• 道順みちじゅんroute
• 仕方しかたway
• 重ねかさねpile
• 分科ぶんかdepartment
• 致し方いたしかたway
• クールcourse (of medical treatment)
• 一途いっとway
• 場じょうplace
• 走路そうろrace track
• 方向性ほうこうせいdirection
• 履修科目りしゅうかもくsubject (at school)
• 詮方せんかたway
• 方向ほうこうcourse (e.g. of action)
• 流れながれcourse (of events)
• 科かcourse (of study)
• 歩みあゆみcourse (of history, one's life, etc.)
• 皿さらserving
• 教室きょうしつclass
• 経過けいかprogress
• 路線ろせんline (taken by a group, organization, etc.)
• 行方ゆくえoutcome
• 空模様そらもようcourse (of events)
• 一品いっぴんdish
• メニューschedule
• 勢いいきおいimpetus
• 道みちroad (e.g. to victory)