授業を受ける
jugyō o ukeru
To take a class in Japanese is 授業を受ける (jugyō o ukeru).
The phrase 授業を受ける means to receive a lesson. It is used to describe the act of enrolling in and attending a course of study to learn a specific subject.
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is composed of 授業 (jugyō), meaning 'class' or 'lesson', the particle を (o) marking the object and 受ける (ukeru), meaning 'to receive'.
Which one should you use?
While 授業を受ける emphasizes the act of attending and receiving the instruction, 授業を取る (jugyō o toru) is often used to mean the act of registering for or signing up for a class. Additionally, for university-level lectures specifically, the word 講義 (kōgi) is often used instead of 授業 (jugyō), resulting in the phrase 講義を受ける (kōgi o ukeru).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say you 'took a class' in the past tense in a polite manner, use the form 授業を受けました (jugyō o ukemashita).
How do you pronounce it?
jugyō o ukeru
Did you know?
- While 授業 (jugyō) means 'class', the first character 授 refers to giving and 業 refers to a task. Literally, it describes the act of 'bestowing a task' or 'giving a skill'.
- If a student is 'taking' a class in the sense of auditing it without seeking credit, they use the term 聴講 (chōkō), which literally means 'listening and viewing'.
- The word 受ける (ukeru) used in this phrase is the same verb used when a student 'takes' an entrance exam. This reinforces the idea that both a class and an exam are things one 'receives' or 'undergoes'.
Examples in context
- 彼は大学で日本語の授業を受けています。He is taking a Japanese class at the university.
- 授業を受けることは私の目標です。Taking a class is my goal.
- 日本語の授業があるので、教室に行かなければなりません。I have a Japanese class, so I have to go to the classroom.
- 来週から新しいダンスの教室に行くつもりです。I plan to go to a new dance class from next week.
- 彼はピアノのレッスンを受けています。He is taking piano lessons.
- 英会話のレッスンに通っています。I am attending English conversation lessons.
- 大学で英語の授業を受ける。daigaku de eigo no jugyou o ukeru.I take an English class at university.
- オンラインで料理の授業を受ける。onrain de ryouri no jugyou o ukeru.I take a cooking class online.
- 今月、新しいピアノの授業を受ける予定です。kongetsu, atarashii piano no jugyou o ukeru yotei desu.I plan to take a new piano class this month.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Kenta are talking about their hobbies.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんは何か習い事をしていますか？Kenta-san wa nanika naraigoto o shite imasu ka?Are you learning anything, Kenta?
- 健太 Kentaはい、最近、写真の授業を受けるようになりました。Hai, saikin, shashin no jugyō o ukeru yō ni narimashita.Yes, I've started taking a photography class recently.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね！どこで授業を受けているんですか？Ii desu ne! Doko de jugyō o ukete iru n desu ka?That's nice! Where are you taking the class?
- 健太 Kenta町のコミュニティセンターで受けています。Machi no komyuniti sentā de ukete imasu.I'm taking it at the town community center.
