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A1 noun #3,875 가장 일반적인 8분 분량

学年

gakunen 상위 3,875

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 学年 30초 만에

설명 学年 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that '学年' (gakunen) means 'school grade' or 'academic year.' You will mostly use it to answer the question 'What grade are you in?' (Nan-gakunen desu ka?). You should recognize the kanji: 学 (study) and 年 (year). At this stage, focus on the fact that Japanese schools start in April. If you are a student, you might say 'I am a first-year' using 'ichi-nensei,' but you will hear teachers use 'gakunen' to talk about the whole class. It's a simple noun that helps you describe your life as a student. You don't need to worry about complex grammar; just treat it as a label for your level in school.

At the A2 level, you should start using '学年' (gakunen) in slightly more complex sentences. You might talk about when the 'new academic year' (shin-gakunen) starts or compare your grade with a friend's. You will learn that 'gakunen' refers to the group or the level, while '-nensei' is what you call an individual student. For example, 'We are in the same grade' is 'Onaji gakunen desu.' You can also use it to describe school events like 'gakunen-shūkai' (grade-wide meeting). Understanding that 'gakunen' is a noun and can be modified by adjectives like 'new' (atarashii) or 'same' (onaji) is key here.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B1 level, you should understand the social implications of '学年' (gakunen). In Japan, being in a higher grade (senpai) or lower grade (kōhai) changes how you speak. You will use 'gakunen' to discuss these relationships. You might also encounter the word in more formal settings, such as university course requirements (e.g., 'This class is for 2nd-year students and above'). You should be comfortable using 'gakunen' with various particles like 'ni' (in a grade), 'no' (belonging to a grade), and 'de' (at a grade level). You will also start to distinguish 'gakunen' from 'nendo' (fiscal year) in reading passages.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B2 level, you can use '学年' (gakunen) in administrative and professional contexts. You might discuss educational policy, such as the 'gakunen-sei' (grade system) versus the 'tan'i-sei' (credit system) in universities. You should be able to understand news reports about 'gakunen heisa' (closing a whole grade level due to illness) or academic calendars. You will also understand idiomatic uses and how 'gakunen' affects social hierarchy in Japanese companies, where people of the same 'entry year' (dōki) often treat each other like 'dō-gakunen' (classmates). Your vocabulary will include compound words like 'gakunen-matsu' (end of the academic year).

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C1 level, you possess a nuanced understanding of '学年' (gakunen) within the broader Japanese societal structure. You can discuss the psychological impact of the 'gakunen' system on children, such as the pressure of 'gakunen-jun' (ranking within a grade). You can analyze academic papers or official government documents from the Ministry of Education (MEXT) that use 'gakunen' to define curriculum standards. You understand the historical evolution of the April-start academic year and can debate the pros and cons of changing it to a September start to match international standards. Your use of the word is precise, distinguishing it from 'nenji' or 'nendo' with ease.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C2 level, '学年' (gakunen) is a tool for sophisticated discourse. You can use it to discuss the sociological concepts of cohort effects and age-based hierarchy in Japan. You understand the deep-seated cultural preference for age-based 'gakunen' progression over ability-based promotion and can articulate the complexities of this in a professional or academic setting. You are comfortable with archaic or highly specific legal terms involving 'gakunen' in school law. Your mastery allows you to use the word with perfect register, whether you're giving a formal lecture on pedagogy or joking with friends about being 'the same year' in a very specific, nuanced way.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

学年 30초 만에

Refers to the academic year or student's grade level.
Fundamental for Japanese school structure and social hierarchy.
Japanese school years start in April and end in March.
Distinguished from '-nensei' (student counter) and 'nendo' (fiscal year).

The Japanese word 学年 (gakunen) is a foundational noun that every student of the Japanese language encounters early in their journey. At its core, it refers to the 'academic year' or the specific 'grade level' a student occupies within the educational hierarchy. Unlike the English word 'grade,' which can sometimes be confused with a score on a test (which in Japanese would be tensū or seiseki), gakunen refers strictly to the temporal and structural division of schooling. In the Japanese context, the academic year famously begins in April and ends in March of the following year. Therefore, when someone asks about your gakunen, they are asking where you sit within that specific April-to-March cycle.

Structural Usage: It is used to categorize students into groups based on when they entered school. For example, all students who start elementary school in the same April belong to the same gakunen for the next six years.

新しい学年が始まると、教科書も新しくなります。(When the new academic year starts, the textbooks also become new.)

Understanding gakunen is essential for navigating Japanese social dynamics, particularly the senpai-kōhai (senior-junior) relationship. Your gakunen determines your status relative to others in a school or university setting. Even a difference of a single gakunen necessitates a change in the level of politeness (keigo) used during interaction. In a broader sense, gakunen is also used by administrators and teachers to refer to the collective body of students in a specific year, such as 'the third-year group' (san-gakunen).

Administrative Context: In official documents, gakunen refers to the period of instruction. A 'gakunen-matsu' (end of academic year) exam is a comprehensive test covering the whole year's curriculum.

同じ学年の友達と一緒に勉強しました。(I studied with friends from the same grade level.)

In summary, gakunen is the heartbeat of the Japanese educational timeline. It defines who you study with, what level of material you tackle, and how you are perceived within the school's social architecture. Whether you are filling out a form at a Japanese university or watching a high school anime, this word serves as the primary marker of a student's progress through their education.

Using 学年 (gakunen) correctly requires understanding its role as a noun that often acts as a category or a time-marker. It is frequently paired with numbers or indicators of time like 'new' (shin) or 'next' (ji). Unlike some Japanese words that change significantly based on context, gakunen remains relatively stable, though its nuance shifts slightly between referring to a 'time period' and a 'group of people.'

Asking for Grade Level: To ask what grade someone is in, you use 'Nan-gakunen desu ka?' (What grade are you?). This is a polite and standard way to inquire about a student's status.

「弟さんは、今、何学年ですか？」「小学校の五年生です。」('What grade is your younger brother in now?' 'He is a fifth grader in elementary school.')

Notice in the example above that while the question uses gakunen, the answer often uses nensei. This is a crucial distinction: gakunen is the category/question, while nensei is the specific counter for the person. You can also use gakunen to describe events that apply to the whole year group, such as a 'gakunen ryokō' (school trip for a specific grade).

Describing the School Year: When referring to the academic year as a unit of time, gakunen is used with verbs like 'hajimaru' (to start) or 'owaru' (to end).

この学年の目標は、全員が漢字検定に合格することです。(The goal for this academic year is for everyone to pass the Kanji Proficiency Test.)

In a university setting, gakunen is used to determine eligibility for certain courses or seminars. For example, '3-gakunen ijō' means 'third-year students and above.' This demonstrates its utility in setting boundaries and requirements within the educational system.

You will hear 学年 (gakunen) most frequently in environments connected to education. However, its reach extends into domestic life and media. In Japan, education is a central pillar of society, so discussions about school years are common even among adults. For instance, parents at a 'PTA' meeting will constantly use gakunen to discuss their children's activities.

In Anime and Manga: School-life anime is a massive genre. You will often hear characters say 'Gakunen ga chigau' (We are in different grades) to explain why they don't see each other often or why they use formal language.

「彼は私より一学年上です。」('He is one grade above me.')

In a professional setting, people might mention their gakunen when talking about their past. It is common for coworkers to discover they are 'dō-gakunen' (the same school year), which immediately creates a sense of camaraderie and allows them to drop some formalities, as they likely shared the same cultural touchstones and historical events during their youth.

School Announcements: During morning assemblies (朝礼 - chōrei), the principal might address a specific grade: 'San-gakunen no minasan...' (Everyone in the third year...).

「次の学年に進むための準備をしましょう。」('Let's prepare to move on to the next grade level.')

Whether it's the news reporting on a 'gakunen heisa' (grade-level closure) due to a flu outbreak or a student complaining about their 'gakunen shun' (grade head teacher), the word is an omnipresent part of the Japanese linguistic landscape whenever education is the topic.

For English speakers, the most common mistake when using 学年 (gakunen) is confusing it with other 'year' or 'grade' related words. Because English uses 'grade' for both a student's level and their test scores, beginners often try to use gakunen to describe an 'A' or a 'B'. This is incorrect. In Japanese, test grades are tensū (points) or seiseki (results/grades).

Gakunen vs. Nendo: Another point of confusion is nendo (fiscal/academic year). While gakunen refers to the student's level or the school year structure, nendo is used for the calendar period (e.g., '2023 nendo' means the 2023 academic/fiscal year). You wouldn't say 'I am in the 2023 gakunen.'

❌ 良い学年を取りました。(I got a good grade [score].)
✅ 良い成績を取りました。(I got a good grade [result].)

A third mistake involves the counter -nensei. Learners often say 'Ichi-gakunen desu' when they mean 'I am a first-year student.' While 'ichi-gakunen' exists as a noun phrase meaning 'the first-year grade,' the natural way to state your status is 'Ichi-nensei desu.' Gakunen is the concept; nensei is the label for the person.

Age vs. Grade: In Japan, students rarely skip or repeat grades. Therefore, age and gakunen are tightly linked. However, don't use gakunen to mean age. If you are 20 years old, you are 'nijū-sai,' not 'nijū-gakunen.'

❌ 私の学年は20歳です。(My grade is 20 years old.)
✅ 私は20歳です。(I am 20 years old.)

Finally, remember that the gakunen resets when you move from elementary school (shōgakkō) to junior high (chūgakkō). You don't become a '7th-year student'; you become a 'chūgaku ichi-nensei' (junior high 1st year). Using the total count of years (like 7th or 10th grade) is a common mistake for those used to the US system.

To truly master 学年 (gakunen), you must understand how it fits into a constellation of related terms. Japanese has many specific words for the divisions of time and status in school. Choosing the right one depends on whether you are talking about the student, the calendar, or the administrative unit.

学年 (Gakunen) vs. 年生 (Nensei): Gakunen is the 'academic year' or 'grade level' as an abstract noun. Nensei is the counter used with numbers to describe a person (e.g., ni-nensei = sophomore/2nd year).
学年 (Gakunen) vs. 年度 (Nendo): Gakunen is about the level (1st grade, 2nd grade). Nendo is about the fiscal/calendar year (The 2024 academic year). You would say '2024-nendo no jugyō' (2024 academic year classes).

学年 (Gakunen) focuses on the stage of education, while 年度 (Nendo) focuses on the calendar period.

Other related terms include 学期 (gakki), which means 'semester' or 'term.' Most Japanese schools have three gakki within one gakunen. Then there is 同期 (dōki), which refers to people who entered a company or school in the same year. While dōki is common in business, in school, people usually use dō-gakunen to mean they are in the same grade.

Comparison Table

学年: Grade level (The concept).
年生: Grade student (The counter).
年度: Fiscal/Academic year (The calendar).
学期: Semester (The division of the year).

Understanding these distinctions helps you avoid sounding like a 'first-year student' of the language yourself! Using gakunen correctly shows an awareness of the Japanese school structure, which is vital for both social integration and professional accuracy.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The '学' kanji originally depicted a child under a roof with hands holding a teaching tool. '年' originally depicted a person carrying harvested grain, signifying a year's cycle.

발음 가이드

UK ɡakɯneɴ

US ɡɑkunɛn

Japanese is pitch-accented, not stress-accented. In 'gakunen', the pitch stays relatively flat/high after the first syllable.

라임이 맞는 단어

Bakunen (explosive year) Rakunen (easy year) Sakunen (last year) Chakunen (arrival year) Dokunen (poison year) Mokunen (silent year) Kyokunen (extreme year) Tokunen (special year)

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing 'ku' too long like 'koo'.
Missing the nasal 'n' at the end.
Confusing the pitch accent with 'gakunai' (within the school).

난이도

독해 2/5

Kanji is basic (A1-A2 levels), but compounds can be tricky.

쓰기 2/5

Writing '学' and '年' is standard practice for beginners.

말하기 1/5

Pronunciation is straightforward.

듣기 1/5

Commonly heard in school contexts and media.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

学校年学生先生勉強

다음에 배울 것

学期年度成績進級卒業

고급

単位制飛び級学年主任修業年限学年暦

알아야 할 문법

Counters for People (-nensei)

一年生 (ichi-nensei) - 1st year student.

Ordinal Numbers (Dai-)

第一学年 (dai-ichi gakunen) - The first grade.

Particles 'no' and 'de'

学年の目標 (Goal of the grade); 学年で一番 (Best in the grade).

Time indicators with 'ni'

四月に学年が始まる (The grade starts in April).

Relative time (Tsugi no / Mae no)

次の学年 (Next grade); 前の学年 (Previous grade).

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

何学年ですか？

What grade are you in?

Interrogative 'nan' + 'gakunen'.

私は一学年です。

I am in the first grade.

Number + 'gakunen'.

学年が始まります。

The school year starts.

'Gakunen' as the subject.

同じ学年の友達です。

They are friends in the same grade.

'Onaji' (same) modifying 'gakunen'.

新しい学年ですね。

It's a new school year, isn't it?

Adjective 'atarashii' + 'gakunen' + particle 'ne'.

学年の名前を書きます。

I will write the grade's name.

Possessive 'no'.

一学年は百人です。

There are 100 people in the first grade.

Stating quantity.

学年の本です。

It is a book for the grade.

Noun + 'no' + Noun.

四月に新しい学年が始まります。

The new academic year starts in April.

Time particle 'ni' + subject 'gakunen'.

兄とは学年が違います。

I am in a different grade than my brother.

'to wa' (compared to) + 'chigau' (different).

学年で一番背が高いです。

He is the tallest in the grade.

Scope particle 'de' + 'ichiban'.

次の学年の準備をします。

I will prepare for the next grade.

'Tsugi no' (next) + 'gakunen'.

学年全員で写真を撮りました。

We took a photo with the whole grade.

'Gakunen zen'in' (whole grade).

どの学年が一番好きですか？

Which grade do you like the most?

Interrogative 'dono'.

学年ごとに教室が分かれています。

The classrooms are divided by grade level.

'Goto ni' (by/per).

彼は私の一学年下です。

He is one grade below me.

'Ichi-gakunen shita' (one grade below).

学年末試験の範囲は広いです。

The scope of the end-of-year exam is wide.

Compound 'gakunen-matsu' (end of year).

学年主任の先生に相談しました。

I consulted with the head teacher of the grade.

Compound 'gakunen-shunin' (grade head).

このクラスは二つの学年が混ざっています。

This class has two grade levels mixed together.

'Mazatte iru' (is mixed).

学年が上がるにつれて勉強が難しくなる。

As the grade level goes up, studying gets harder.

'ni tsurete' (as... goes on).

彼は学年でトップの成績を収めた。

He achieved the top grades in the school year.

'Seiseki o osameru' (to achieve results).

学年を代表して挨拶をします。

I will give a speech on behalf of the grade.

'o daihyō shite' (representing).

学年だよりを保護者に配りました。

I distributed the grade newsletter to the parents.

Compound 'gakunen-dayori' (grade newsletter).

同じ学年だから、敬語を使わなくていいよ。

Since we are in the same grade, you don't have to use polite language.

'dakara' (because) + 'nakute ii' (don't have to).

その大学は学年制ではなく単位制を採用している。

That university adopts a credit system rather than a grade system.

'Gakunen-sei' (grade system).

インフルエンザで二学年が学年閉鎖になった。

Two grade levels were closed due to the flu.

'Gakunen heisa' (grade closure).

学年が進むごとに、将来の進路を考えなければならない。

As you progress through the grades, you must think about your future career path.

'Goto ni' (every time/as).

彼は一学年飛び級して大学に入った。

He skipped a grade and entered university.

'Tobikyū' (skipping a grade).

学年全体の学力が低下しているという懸念がある。

There is a concern that the academic ability of the entire grade is declining.

'Gakuryoku' (academic ability) + 'teika' (decline).

学年を跨いでの交流イベントが企画された。

An exchange event spanning across different grades was planned.

'o mataide' (spanning/across).

学年暦に従って、行事が行われます。

Events are held according to the academic calendar.

'Gakunen-reki' (academic calendar).

彼女は学年で最もリーダーシップがある。

She has the most leadership in the grade.

Superlative 'mottomo'.

学年進行に伴い、専門科目の比重が高まっていく。

As the school years progress, the weight of specialized subjects increases.

'Gakunen shinkō' (grade progression).

学年別の到達目標を明確に定める必要がある。

It is necessary to clearly define the achievement goals for each grade level.

'Gakunen-betsu' (by grade level).

少子化の影響で、一学年一学級の学校が増えている。

Due to the declining birthrate, schools with only one class per grade are increasing.

'Shōshika' (declining birthrate).

学年の枠を超えた教育プログラムが注目されている。

Educational programs that transcend the boundaries of grade levels are drawing attention.

'Waku o koeta' (beyond the framework).

学年主任は、学年全体の規律を維持する重責を担っている。

The grade head carries the heavy responsibility of maintaining discipline for the entire grade.

'Jūseki o ninau' (to bear a heavy responsibility).

現行の学年制度が、個々の生徒の習熟度に合っていないとの批判がある。

There is criticism that the current grade system does not match the proficiency levels of individual students.

'Shūjukudo' (proficiency level).

学年を修了するためには、一定の出席日数が必要だ。

To complete a grade level, a certain number of attendance days is required.

'Shūryō' (completion).

学年ごとの発達段階に応じた指導が求められる。

Instruction tailored to the developmental stage of each grade is required.

'Hattatsu dankai' (developmental stage).

学年制の硬直化が、教育の多様性を阻害しているとの指摘がある。

It is pointed out that the rigidity of the grade system is hindering the diversity of education.

'Kōchokuka' (rigidity/ossification).

明治期に導入された学年制度は、国民皆学の達成に大きく寄与した。

The grade system introduced in the Meiji era contributed significantly to achieving universal education.

'Kokumin kaigaku' (universal education).

学年という画一的な区分が、ギフテッド教育の導入を遅らせている一因だ。

The uniform division of 'grades' is one factor delaying the introduction of gifted education.

'Kakuitsu-teki' (uniform/standardized).

学年集団内のピア・プレッシャーが、不登校の要因となることもある。

Peer pressure within a grade cohort can sometimes be a factor in school refusal.

'Pia puresshā' (peer pressure).

学年暦のグローバル・スタンダードへの移行は、長年の懸案事項である。

Shifting the academic calendar to the global standard has been a long-standing pending issue.

'Ken'an jikō' (pending issue).

学年別のカリキュラム編成において、教科横断的な視点が欠如している。

In the curriculum organization by grade, a cross-curricular perspective is lacking.

'Kyōka ōdan-teki' (cross-curricular).

学年という枠組みが、日本人の年齢意識と深く結びついていることは否定できない。

It cannot be denied that the framework of 'grades' is deeply linked to the age consciousness of Japanese people.

'Hitei dekinai' (cannot be denied).

異学年交流を通じて、社会性や共感性を育む試みがなされている。

Attempts are being made to foster sociality and empathy through cross-grade interactions.

'I-gakunen kōryū' (cross-grade interaction).

동의어

年度年次学級級スクールイヤー

반의어

休暇夏休み

자주 쓰는 조합

新しい学年

学年が上がる

同じ学年

学年末

学年主任

学年閉鎖

学年だより

何学年

一学年上

学年集会

자주 쓰는 구문

学年が違う

— To be in different grades. Used to explain social distance.

学年が違うので、あまり話しません。

学年トップ

— Being at the top of the entire grade level (usually in grades).

彼は学年トップの秀才だ。

学年を落とす

— To be held back a grade (less common in Japan, but used).

単位が足りなくて学年を落とした。

学年を跨ぐ

— To span across multiple grades.

学年を跨いだプロジェクト。

学年目標

— The goal or theme for a specific school year.

今年の学年目標を決めましょう。

学年順位

— One's rank within the entire grade level.

学年順位が上がった。

学年行事

— An event specific to one grade level.

明日は学年行事で遠足です。

学年費

— Fees paid for materials or events for a specific grade.

学年費を納入する。

学年代表

— The representative for a grade.

彼女が学年代表に選ばれた。

学年暦

— The academic calendar.

学年暦を確認してください。

자주 혼동되는 단어

学年 vs 成績 (seiseki)

English 'grade' can mean both gakunen and seiseki (test score).

学年 vs 年度 (nendo)

Nendo is the fiscal/calendar period; Gakunen is the school level.

学年 vs 年生 (nensei)

Nensei is the counter for a person; Gakunen is the noun for the level.

관용어 및 표현

"同じ釜の飯を食う"

— To have lived/studied together. Often applied to those in the same 'gakunen'.

同じ学年で、同じ釜の飯を食った仲だ。

Informal

"学年で浮く"

— To be socially isolated from the rest of the grade.

彼は少し変わっていて、学年で浮いている。

Informal

"学年の壁"

— The social barrier between different grades (senpai/kohai).

学年の壁を越えて仲良くする。

Neutral

"学年一の..."

— The best/worst/most... in the whole grade.

彼女は学年一の美人だ。

Informal

"学年を背負う"

— To represent or carry the reputation of the whole grade.

キャプテンとして学年を背負って立つ。

Formal

"学年が入れ替わる"

— The transition period when one year ends and another begins.

学年が入れ替わる時期は忙しい。

Neutral

"学年に馴染む"

— To fit in well with one's grade level.

転校生がようやく学年に馴染んできた。

Neutral

"学年のカラー"

— The 'vibe' or personality of a particular grade cohort.

今年の三学年は、真面目な学年カラーだ。

Informal

"学年で競う"

— To compete against others in the same grade.

学年で1位を競い合う。

Neutral

"学年を締めくくる"

— To bring the school year to a close.

最高の思い出で学年を締めくくろう。

Neutral

혼동하기 쉬운

学年 vs 学期 (gakki)

Both divide the school year.

Gakki is a semester (usually 3 per year); Gakunen is the whole year/level.

一学期は学年の一部です。

学年 vs 学級 (gakkyū)

Both refer to school groups.

Gakkyū is a specific class (e.g., Class 1-A); Gakunen is the entire year level.

私の学級は30人ですが、学年は200人です。

学年 vs 年次 (nenji)

Both mean year level.

Nenji is more formal/academic/corporate; Gakunen is standard for K-12 and university life.

年次報告書 vs 学年だより。

学年 vs 学齢 (gakurei)

Both involve age and school.

Gakurei is 'school age' (the age range for compulsory education).

学齢に達した子供。

学年 vs 学年暦 (gakunenreki)

Sounds like gakunen.

Gakunenreki is the 'academic calendar' document/schedule.

学年暦を見て休みを確認する。

문장 패턴

[Number] 学年です。

二学年です。

同じ [学年] です。

私たちは同じ学年です。

[学年] の [Noun]。

学年の目標。

[学年] が [Verb]。

学年が始まる。

[学年] ごとに [Action]。

学年ごとにテストをする。

[学年] を [Verb]。

学年を修了する。

[学年] に伴い [Change]。

学年進行に伴い難しくなる。

[学年] という [Concept]。

学年という画一的な枠組み。

어휘 가족

명사

学生 (gakusei - student)

学校 (gakkō - school)

学期 (gakki - semester)

学費 (gakuhi - tuition)

学問 (gakumon - learning)

동사

学ぶ (manabu - to learn)

学習する (gakushū suru - to study)

형용사

学術的 (gakujutsu-teki - academic)

学問的 (gakumon-teki - scholarly)

사용법

frequency

Extremely high in educational and social contexts.

자주 하는 실수

Using 'gakunen' for test scores. → 成績 (seiseki) or 点数 (tensū)
In English 'grade' is ambiguous; in Japanese, 'gakunen' is ONLY for the year level.
Saying 'Ichi-gakunen desu' to mean 'I am a 1st year student'. → 一年生です (Ichi-nensei desu)
'-nensei' is the counter for the person; 'gakunen' is the noun for the level.
Using 'gakunen' to mean age. → ～歳 (sai)
While they are linked, 'gakunen' refers to the school stage, not biological age.
Using 'gakunen' for the calendar year (e.g., 2024). → 2024年度 (nendo)
'Gakunen' is the level (1st, 2nd); 'Nendo' is the period (2024).
Continuing the grade count (e.g., 7th grade). → 中学一年生 (Chūgaku ichi-nensei)
Japanese grades reset at each school level (Elementary, Junior High, High School).

팁

The April Connection

Always remember that a new 'gakunen' starts with the cherry blossoms. This visual cue is huge in Japanese culture and media.

Noun vs Counter

Use 'gakunen' as the noun (The grade is...) and '-nensei' as the suffix for people (I am a ...-year student).

Building Rapport

Finding out someone is 'dō-gakunen' (same grade) is a great 'ice-breaker' in Japan. It implies you are the same age and have similar experiences.

Endings and Beginnings

Learn 'gakunen-matsu' (end) and 'shin-gakunen' (new) together to describe the school cycle.

Announcement Keywords

In a school setting, if you hear 'gakunen', pay attention—it usually means something applies to your whole year group.

Kanji Precision

Make sure to write '学' with the correct stroke order; it's a 'Kyōiku Kanji' (learned in 1st grade!) and very common.

Scope of Gakunen

Use 'gakunen' when talking about the group, e.g., 'The whole grade (gakunen zen'in) went on a trip.'

JLPT Context

While 'gakunen' is N5/A1 level, it appears frequently in reading passages about school life or statistics.

Grade vs. Year

In English we say '9th grade', but in Japan it's 'Junior High 3rd Year'. Always reset the count for each school type.

Hierarchy

Even if you are the same age, if your 'gakunen' is lower, you are the 'kōhai'. The 'gakunen' is the law!

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'Gaku' (Goku from Dragon Ball studying) + 'Nen' (New year). Goku starts his study for the New Year grade!

시각적 연상

Imagine a staircase where each step is a 'gakunen'. You climb one step every April.

Word Web

School April Teacher Student Grade Exam Diploma Classroom

챌린지

Try to say what 'gakunen' you were in when you first started learning Japanese.

어원

Composed of two Kanji: '学' (gaku) meaning 'study' or 'learning' and '年' (nen) meaning 'year'.

원래 의미: The year of study or learning period.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

문화적 맥락

Be careful not to assume everyone in a 'gakunen' is the same age, though they usually are. Some may have repeated a grade (ryūnen), which can be a sensitive topic.

In the US/UK, 'grade' can mean a score (A, B, C). In Japan, 'gakunen' NEVER means a score.

The 'Gakunen Magazine' (Gakushū Zasshi) series by Shogakukan. Anime like 'Gakuen Alice' or 'Ouran High School Host Club' frequently reference gakunen levels. Graduation songs like 'Tabidachi no Hi ni' often mention the passing of school years.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

School Administration

学年末試験
学年だより
学年閉鎖
学年費

Social Introduction

何学年ですか？
同じ学年ですね
一学年下です
同学年

University Life

三学年以上の学生
学年暦を確認する
単位と学年
留年する

Parenting

子供の学年
学年主任と話す
学年行事
新学年

Anime/Manga

学年一の美女
違う学年
学年のトップ
学年集会

대화 시작하기

"大学では何学年ですか？ (What year are you in at university?)"

"同じ学年の人は何人くらいいますか？ (About how many people are in the same grade as you?)"

"新しい学年で楽しみなことはありますか？ (Is there anything you're looking forward to in the new school year?)"

"日本の学年が四月に始まることを知っていますか？ (Did you know the Japanese school year starts in April?)"

"高校の時、学年で一番得意な科目は何でしたか？ (In high school, what was your best subject in your grade?)"

일기 주제

新しい学年が始まった時の気持ちを書いてください。 (Write about how you feel when a new school year starts.)

自分の学年で一番の思い出は何ですか？ (What is your best memory from your current/past grade level?)

学年が変わる時に、どんな準備をしますか？ (What kind of preparations do you make when the school year changes?)

もし学年を飛び級できるなら、したいですか？ (If you could skip a grade, would you want to?)

日本とあなたの国の学年制度の違いについて書いてください。 (Write about the differences between the grade system in Japan and your country.)

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

Yes, almost universally. While some universities are introducing September starts for international students, the standard 'gakunen' for the vast majority of Japanese schools (elementary through university) starts in April and ends in March.

No. For test scores, use 'seiseki' (grades/results) or 'tensū' (points). 'Gakunen' only refers to your year in school.

'Ichi-nensei' specifically means 'a first-year student.' 'Ichi-gakunen' means 'the first-year grade level.' You would say 'I am an ichi-nensei,' but you might talk about 'the curriculum of the ichi-gakunen.'

You use the term 'tobikyū' (飛び級). You could say 'Ichi-gakunen tobikyū shimashita' (I skipped one grade level).

Generally no, but the concept of 'dōki' (joining the same year) is the corporate equivalent. However, coworkers might discuss their children's 'gakunen'.

This is the 'Grade Head' or 'Head of Year' teacher who oversees all the classes and teachers within a specific grade level.

You can say 'san-gakunen' to mean 'three grade levels' or 'the third grade' depending on context.

Yes, but they often use specific terms like 'nen-shō' (youngest), 'nen-chū' (middle), and 'nen-chō' (oldest) instead of numbers.

It means 'the end of the academic year,' which in Japan is late March. This is a time for final exams and graduation ceremonies.

It is less common. For adult language schools or short courses, terms like 'reberu' (level) or 'kurasu' (class) are more frequent.

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