卒業式
sotsugyōshiki[so̞t͡sɨɡʲo̞ːɕi̥kʲi]
The Japanese phrase for "graduation ceremony" is 卒業式 (sotsugyōshiki).
卒業式 refers to a formal event held to celebrate students receiving their academic degrees or diplomas. This term is used universally across all levels of education, from kindergarten to university.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 卒業, meaning graduation and 式, meaning ceremony or ritual.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of attending a graduation ceremony, you can use the phrase 卒業式に出席する.
How do you pronounce it?
sotsugyōshiki
When do people say it?
In Japan, graduation ceremonies typically take place in March, coinciding with the end of the academic year.
Did you know?
- The term 卒業 is often used metaphorically in Japanese to describe 'graduating' from a habit or a phase of life, such as おねしょり卒業 for stopping bedwetting.
- At a 卒業式, it is common to see students crying and singing emotional songs together, as the event is viewed more as a poignant farewell than a celebratory party.
- The character 卒 in 卒業式 originally meant 'to finish' or 'to be dead', which relates to the idea of completing a specific stage of life.
Examples in context
- 卒業式が楽しみです。I'm looking forward to the graduation ceremony.This sentence is useful for expressing anticipation for the 卒業式.Tatoeba #11574652 by small_snow, translation #11576593 by CK
- 卒業式は三月二十日に行われます。The graduation ceremony will take place on March 20th.This sentence is useful for stating when a 卒業式 will occur.Tatoeba #139663 by bunbuku, translation #274537 by CK
- 今日、娘の卒業式なの。でも、親は出席せず子供だけになったわ。Today is my daughter's graduation ceremony. However, parents are not to take part, only the children.This sentence describes a situation where a 卒業式 is attended only by children and not parents.Tatoeba #8588655 by small_snow, translation #10067245 by tsp_2
- 今週の土曜日に卒業式があります。There will be a graduation ceremony this Saturday.
- 北海道の高校卒業式は雪の中でも行われます。High school graduation ceremonies in Hokkaido take place even in the snow.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A brother and sister are talking about their schedules.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、卒業式はいつなの？Yōta, sotsugyōshiki wa itsu nano?Yota, when is your graduation ceremony?
- 陽太 Yota来週の金曜日だよ。Raishū no kin'yōbi dayo.It is next Friday.
- 陽葵 Himariいいな。卒業式に何か買うの？Ii na. Sotsugyōshiki ni nanika kau no?Nice. Are you buying something for the graduation ceremony?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、新しいスーツを買うつもり。Un, atarashii sūtsu o kau tsumori.Yeah, I plan to buy a new suit.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 卒業式, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 卒業式, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
