先学期
sengakki
In Japanese, "last semester" is expressed as 先学期 (sengakki).
The phrase refers to the academic term that immediately preceded the current one.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 先 (sen), meaning 'previous' or 'before' and 学期 (gakki), meaning 'academic term' or 'semester'.
Which one should you use?
The term 前学期 (zen-gakki) can also be used to mean the previous semester. In many academic contexts, these two terms are used interchangeably.
How do you pronounce it?
sengakki
Did you know?
- In Japanese universities, the academic year begins in April rather than September or January, so 'last semester' often refers to a term completed during the winter months.
- While 先学期 refers to the previous term, Japanese students often use 前期 (zenki) and 後期 (kouki) to distinguish between the first and second halves of the academic year.
- When discussing 先学期 (sengakki) in a professional or formal setting, Japanese speakers may use extremely polite honorifics to describe a professor's actions during that time, even if the semester ended years ago.
Examples in context
- リンダの先学期の成績が非常に良かったので、私は彼女がヨーロッパに行けるよう段取りをした。Because of Linda's outstanding grades last semester, I have arranged for her to visit Europe.This sentence is useful for discussing how someone's grades from 先学期 led to specific arrangements.Tatoeba #192441 by arnab, translation #29606 by Dejo
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their grades.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太くん、先学期の成績はどうだった？Yōta-kun, sen-gakki no seiseki wa dō datta?Yota, how were your grades last semester?
- 陽太 Yotaまあまあだったよ。陽葵は？Mā mā datta yo. Himari wa?They were okay. How about you, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himari私は全部Aを取れたよ。Watashi wa zenbu A o toreta yo.I managed to get all As.
- 陽太 Yotaすごいね！勉強を頑張ったんだね。Sugoi ne! Benkyō o ganbatta n da ne.That's amazing! You must have studied hard.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
