授業
じゅぎょう
jugyou
= lesson / class / lecture
授業 (jugyou) is one of the most frequently used words in Japanese school life — the word for a lesson, class period, or lecture. Every student in Japan uses this word daily from elementary school through university.
Jugyou refers to a single class period, lesson, or lecture. At school, it describes each scheduled subject period: 英語の授業 (eigo no jugyou — English class), 数学の授業 (suugaku no jugyou — math class). At university, it refers to lectures and seminars. The word can also be used for any formal instructional session: ピアノの授業 (piano no jugyou — piano lesson). Common phrases: 授業を受ける (jugyou wo ukeru — to attend a class), 授業をサボる (jugyou wo saboru — to skip class), 授業中 (jugyou-chuu — during class).
Jugyou (授業) is a single class session or the act of teaching; kurasu (クラス) is the student group. ‘授業中にスマホを使ってはいけない’ (jugyou-chuu ni sumaho wo tsukatte wa ikenai — you must not use your phone during class) is a common school rule. 補習授業 (hoshuu jugyou — remedial class) is a make-up or supplementary lesson.
授 (ju) means ‘to grant’ or ‘to teach’ — the teacher giving knowledge. 業 (gyou) means ‘work,’ ‘act,’ or ‘undertaking.’ Together: the act of imparting — a lesson or instructional session.
Everyday use
今日の授業は難しかった。
Kyou no jugyou wa muzukashikatta.
Today’s class was difficult.
Casual / Social Media
今日授業サボって後悔してる…出とけばよかった
Kyou jugyou sabotte koukai shiteru… deto keba yokatta
I skipped class today and I regret it… I should have gone
Formal / Cultural context
教育の質を高めるためには、教師が授業設計に十分な時間と資源を確保できる環境が不可欠である。
Kyouiku no shitsu wo takameru tame ni wa, kyoushi ga jugyou sekkei ni juubun na jikan to shigen wo kakuho dekiru kankyou ga fukaketsu de aru.
To improve educational quality, it is essential to create an environment where teachers can secure sufficient time and resources for lesson planning.
In Japanese schools, jugyou follows a strict structure. Each period is typically 45–50 minutes long. At the start of each jugyou, the class representative (学級委員, gakkyu iin) calls 起立・礼・着席 (kiritsu, rei, chakuseki — stand, bow, sit), and the whole class bows to the teacher together. This ritual marks the formal beginning and end of each lesson and reflects the respect-based structure of Japanese classroom culture.
授業参観 (jugyou sankan — class observation day) is a regular feature of Japanese school life where parents visit school to observe their children’s classes in session. It typically occurs once or twice per semester, and attendance by parents is expected. The experience of being watched by parents creates both pride and nervousness in students, and teachers prepare particularly thorough lessons for observation days. This practice reflects the close relationship between family and school in Japanese education culture.
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