How to say "pupil" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 生徒せいとnounA pupil at a school, taught by a teacher; for the person sense of 'pupil' this is the word you want, and it also covers 'student' and 'schoolchild'.
- 弟子でしno-adjectiveA pupil who studies personally under a master — a disciple, adherent or follower; this is the word for learning an art or craft at a master's side, not for a schoolchild.
- 瞳ひとみnounThe pupil of the eye, the dark opening at the center of the iris; use this when 'pupil' means the eye rather than a person, while 瞳孔 is the anatomical term.
- 学童がくどうnounA schoolchild, a child attending school; it can render 'pupil', but when you simply mean a pupil at school 生徒 is the more usual choice.
- 瞳孔どうこうnounThe pupil of the eye as an anatomical term, used in medical and scientific contexts such as describing how the pupils react to light.
For a person, use 生徒 for a pupil at school, 学童 for a schoolchild, and 弟子 for a disciple studying under a master; for the pupil of the eye, use 瞳, with 瞳孔 as the anatomical term.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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