How to say "subject" in Japanese

• 課題かだいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA subject or theme in the sense of something to be studied or dealt with: an issue, problem, or matter to address. Typical of research subjects and the problems facing a company or society.
  その学生がくせいは自分じぶんの課題かだいに専念せんねんした。↗

  The student concentrated on his subject.
• 教科きょうかJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA subject in the school sense: one of the branches of instruction that make up a curriculum. Use it for subjects taught at school, not for topics of conversation or issues to solve.
  どの教科きょうかが一番いちばん好すきですか。↗

  Which subject do you like best?
• 対象たいしょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjective'Subject' here means the person or thing that something applies to or is directed at: the subject of taxation, the object of study or worship — not a topic under discussion.
  この歴史書れきししょは高校生こうこうせいを対象たいしょうに書かかれている。↗

  This history book is written for high school students.
• 話題わだいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA subject as a topic of conversation or discussion: what people are talking about. When English 'subject' really means 'topic,' as in the subject everyone is discussing, this is the word you want.
  その話題わだいは話し合はなしあう価値かちがある。↗

  The topic is worth discussing.
• 学科がっかJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA subject as a field or course of study: the discipline a student pursues at a school or university. 教科 points to the curriculum; this word points to the course of study itself.
  数学すうがくは私の好すきな学科がっかです。↗

  Mathematics is my favorite subject.

Choose by sense: 話題 is a topic of conversation, 教科 a school subject within the curriculum, 学科 a course or field of study, 課題 a theme or issue to address, and 対象 the person or thing something applies to.

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

• 課題かだいsubject
• 教科きょうかsubject
• 対象たいしょうtarget
• 話題わだいtopic
• 学科がっかsubject (of study)
• 主題しゅだいsubject
• 題材だいざいsubject
• 主語しゅごsubject
• 題だいtitle
• 主観しゅかんsubjectivity
• 画題がだいsubject (of a painting)
• 被験者ひけんしゃsubject (of a medical experiment, etc.)
• 件けんmatter
• 実体じったいsubstance
• 件名けんめいsubject
• 臣民しんみんsubject
• サブジェクトsubject
• 論題ろんだいsubject
• 主辞しゅじsubject
• 文題ぶんだいsubject
• 掲題けいだいsubject (e.g. of an email)
• 履修科目りしゅうかもくsubject (at school)
• 臣下しんかretainer
• 話頭わとうtopic
• 話柄わへいtopic
• 対象者たいしょうしゃtarget (e.g. of a marketing campaign)
• お題おだいtheme
• 科目かもく(school) subject
• 被写体ひしゃたい(photographic) subject
• 話はなしtopic
• 主ぬしsubject (of a rumour, etc.)
• 主体しゅたいsubject
• 問題もんだいproblem (e.g. societal, political)
• 題目だいもくtopic
• 的まとobject
• 主部しゅぶsubject (noun phrase)
• 標記ひょうきsubject (of memo, email, etc.)
• 道みちfield (e.g. of medicine)
• たねmaterial (e.g. for an article)
• Ｓエスsubject