小学校
shōgakkō[ɕo̞ːɡa̠k̚ko̞ː]
The English phrase "primary school" is translated into Japanese as 小学校 (shōgakkō).
The term 小学校 refers to the first formal, obligatory stage of schooling.
Meaning: first formal, obligatory school (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 小学校 refers to primary or elementary school, the term 中学校 (chūgakkō) is used to refer to junior high or middle school.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express possession or a relationship such as "primary school's" or "of primary school" (for example, to say "primary school teacher"), you must add the particle の after 小学校, resulting in 小学校の.
How do you pronounce it?
shōgakkō
Did you know?
- In many 小学校, students are responsible for cleaning the classrooms and hallways themselves as part of a daily practice called 掃除 (sōji). This is seen as a lesson in responsibility and respect for shared spaces.
- Children entering 小学校 often use a ランドセル (randoseru), a sturdy leather backpack designed to last all six years. These bags are iconic symbols of childhood in Japan and are often very expensive.
- The word 小学校 uses the kanji 小 for 'small' and 校 for 'school'. Interestingly, the character 校 originally referred to a wooden fence or a boundary, later evolving to mean a place of learning.
Examples in context
- この本はね、小学校の時に読んだよ。I read this book when I went to primary school.This sentence is useful for talking about reading a book while you were in 小学校.Tatoeba #10574504 by small_snow, translation #6443403 by RudeGuyGames
- トムはかつて小学校の教師をしていた。Tom used to be a primary school teacher.This sentence is useful for describing someone who was a teacher at a 小学校.Tatoeba #10907079 by SomeHungryBois, translation #7541895 by CK
- 黒田小学校では決められた時刻に集まって、集団登校します。At Kuroda Primary School we assemble at a prearranged time and go to school as a group.This sentence is useful for describing group school attendance at a specific 小学校.Tatoeba #76160 by bunbuku, translation #327558 by papabear
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are talking about their childhood memories.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くんは、小学校で何が好きだった？Yōta-kun wa, shōgakkō de nani ga suki datta?Yota, what did you like in primary school?
- 陽太 Yota僕は、小学校の時にサッカーをしていたよ。Boku wa, shōgakkō no toki ni sakkā o shite ita yo.I played soccer when I was in primary school.
- 結衣 Yuiいいな。私は小学校の時は読書が好きだった。Ii na. Watashi wa shōgakkō no toki wa dokusho ga suki datta.That's nice. I liked reading when I was in primary school.
- 陽太 Yota結衣ちゃんは、昔から本が好きだったんだね。Yui-chan wa, mukashi kara hon ga suki datta nda ne.Yui, you've liked books for a long time, haven't you?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “primary school” translations and entries 小学校, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
