ノート
nōto[no̞ːto̞]
The Japanese word for exercise book is ノート (nōto). Wiktionary also lists 雑記帳 (zakkichō) and ノートブック (nōtobukku).
Meaning: booklet for students (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ノート | nōto | [no̞ːto̞] (narrow) |
| 雑記帳 | zakkichō | |
| ノートブック | nōtobukku | [no̞ːto̞bɯ̟k̚kɯ̟] (narrow) |
While 'exercise book' is the English term, the Japanese word ノート is the standard term used for both school exercise books and general notebooks. In a school context, students and teachers almost exclusively use the word ノート to refer to their exercise books.
Which one should you use?
The most common way to say 'exercise book' is the loanword ノート, derived from the English word 'note'.
How do you pronounce it?
nōto
Did you know?
- Although ノート comes from the English 'note', it is used in Japanese to refer to the physical object itself, whereas in English a 'note' is the message written inside it.
- In Japanese schools, students often use a まとめノート (matome nōto) to condense a whole term's lessons into one 'summary notebook' for exam preparation.
- The word ノート is a 'gairaigo' or loanword, meaning it is written in Katakana to signal its foreign origin, a distinction not required for native Japanese words.
Examples in context
- わたしは 練習帳 を使って日本語の漢字を練習しています。I am practicing Japanese kanji using an exercise book.
- 友達と ノート を交換して勉強しています。I am exchanging exercise books with my friend to study.
- 新しいノートを買いました。atarashii nōto o kaimashita.I bought a new exercise book.
- このノートはとても大きいです。kono nōto wa totemo ōkii desu.This exercise book is very large.
- ノートを忘れてしまいました。nōto o wasurete shimaimashita.I accidentally forgot my exercise book.
Example conversation
Two students are preparing for class in a classroom.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲、ノートを貸してくれる？Misaki, nōto o kashite kureru?Misaki, can you lend me an exercise book?
- 美咲 Misakiいいよ。はい、どうぞ。Ii yo. Hai, dōzo.Sure. Here you go.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとう。助かるよ。Arigatō. Tasukaru yo.Thanks. That helps a lot.
- 美咲 Misaki気にしないで、大翔。Ki ni shinaide, Hiroto.Don't worry about it, Hiroto.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “exercise book” translations and entries ノート, ノートブック, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
