クラスメイト
kurasumeito[kɯ̟ɾa̠sɨme̞ːto̞]
The English word classmate is translated into Japanese as クラスメイト (kurasumeito). Wiktionary also lists 同級生 (dōkyūsei) and 級友 (kyūyū).
Meaning: student who is in the same class at school (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| クラスメイト | kurasumeito | [kɯ̟ɾa̠sɨme̞ːto̞] (narrow) |
| 同級生 | dōkyūsei | [do̞ːkʲɨːse̞ː] (narrow) |
| 級友 | kyūyū | [kʲɨːjɯ̟ː] (narrow) |
| クラスメート | kurasumēto | [kɯ̟ɾa̠sɨme̞ːto̞] (narrow) |
All these terms refer to a student who is in the same class at school.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 同級生 is composed of 同 (same), 級 (grade/level) and 生 (student/living being), meaning same grade student.
Which one should you use?
同級生 specifically refers to someone in the same grade or year. In contrast, クラスメイト refers more specifically to someone in the same specific classroom or group. クラスメイト is a loanword from English and is common in casual conversation, whereas 同級生 is a more traditional Japanese term.
How do you pronounce it?
kurasumeito
Did you know?
- Japanese people may use 同級生 to describe people they have never actually met, as long as they were born in the same year and entered school at the same time.
- The word 同級生 was first attested in 1901, coinciding with the modernization of the Japanese school system during the Meiji era.
- The term 級友 (kyūyū) uses the character 友 (friend), which creates a subtle nuance of being 'class friends' rather than just colleagues in the same grade.
Examples in context
- 彼は私の級友です。He is my classmate.This sentence is useful for saying he is my classmate using 級友.Tatoeba #105877 by bunbuku, translation #297810 by CK
- 彼女は私のクラスメイトです。She's my classmate.This sentence is useful for saying she is my classmate using クラスメイト.Tatoeba #89430 by bunbuku, translation #321453 by CK
- ここに来る途中で、偶然昔のクラスメイトに会ったんだ。I ran across an old classmate on my way here.This sentence is useful for describing running into an old classmate using クラスメイト.Tatoeba #161042 by bunbuku, translation #253476 by CM
- 私の同級生My classmate
- クラスメートと一緒に勉強するStudy together with classmates
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are talking about their school days.
- 美咲 Misaki新しいクラスメイトは、みんな優しい？Atarashii kurasumeito wa, minna yasashii?Are your new classmates all kind?
- 健太 Kentaうん、クラスメイトのみんなと仲良くやってるよ。Un, kurasumeito no minna to nakayoku yatteru yo.Yeah, I'm getting along well with all my classmates.
- 美咲 Misakiそれはよかったね。Sore wa yokatta ne.That's good to hear.
- 健太 Kenta美咲も、クラスメイトに相談してみて。Misaki mo, kurasumeito ni sodan shite mite.You should try talking to your classmates too, Misaki.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “classmate” translations and entries クラスメイト, 同級生, 級友, クラスメート, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries クラスメート, 同級生, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
