to do homework in japanese

Learn Japanese

Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese

Expressing “must” or “have to”

When there’s something that must or must not be done.

In life, there are things that we must or must not do whether it’s taking out the trash or doing our homework. We will cover how to say this in Japanese because it is a useful expression and it also ties in well with the previous section. We will also learn how to the say the expression, “You don’t have to…” to finish off this section.

Using 「 だめ 」, 「 いけない 」, and 「ならない」 for things that must not be done

• 駄目 【だめ】 – no good
• ここ – here
• 入る 【はい・る】 (u-verb) – to enter
• それ – that
• 食べる 【たべ・る】 (ru-verb) – to eat
• 夜 【よる】 – evening
• 遅い 【おそ・い】 (i-adj) – late
• ～まで (particle) – until ～
• 電話 【でん・わ】 – phone
• する (exception) – to do
• 早い 【はや・い】 (i-adj) – fast; early
• 寝る 【ね・る】 (ru-verb) – to sleep

If you’re not familiar with the word 「 だめ 」（ 駄目 ）, though it can be used in many different ways it essentially means “no good”. The other two key words in this section are 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」 and they have essentially the same basic meaning as 「 だめ 」. However, while 「 いけない 」 can be used by itself, 「ならない」 must only be used in the grammar presented here. In addition, while 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」 conjugate like i-adjectives they are not actual adjectives. Let’s learn how to use these words to express things that must not be done.

• Take the te-form of the verb, add the 「は」 (wa) particle and finally attach either 「 だめ 」、「 いけない 」、or 「ならない」. Example 入る → 入って + は + だめ ／ いけない ／ならない = 入って は だめ ／ 入って は いけない ／ 入って はならない
• ここ に 入って は いけません 。 You must not enter here.
• それ を 食べて は だめ ！ You can’t (must not) eat that!
• 夜 、 遅く まで 電話 して は ならない。 You must not use the phone until late at night.
• 早く 寝て は なりませんでした。 Wasn’t allowed to sleep early.

The difference between 「 だめ 」、「 いけない 」、and 「ならない」 is that, first of all, 「 だめ 」 is casual. While 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」 are basically identical, 「ならない」 is generally more for things that apply to more than one person like rules and policies.

Expressing things that must be done

• 毎日 【まい・にち】 – everyday
• 学校 【がっ・こう】 – school
• 行く 【い・く】 (u-verb) – to go
• 宿題 【しゅく・だい】 – homework

You may have predicted that the opposite of “You must not do” would use 「 いける 」 or 「 なる 」 because they look like the positive version of 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」. However, 「 いけない 」 and 「ならない」 must always be negative, so this is not correct. In actuality, we still use the same 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」 and use the opposite of the verb that goes in front of it instead. This double negative can be kind of confusing at first but you will get used to it with practice. There are three ways to conjugate the verb before adding 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」 and two of them involve conditionals so aren’t you glad that you just learned conditionals in the previous section?

• Negative te-form + 「は」 (wa) particle + だめ ／ いけない ／ならない
• Negative verb + 「と」 conditional + だめ ／ いけない ／ならない
• Negative verb + 「ば」 conditional + だめ ／ いけない ／ならない

The first method is the same as the “must not do” grammar form except that we simply negated the verb.

• 毎日 学校 に 行かなくて は なりません。 Must go to school everyday.
• 宿題 を しなくて は いけなかった Had to do homework.

The second method uses the natural conditional that we learned in the last lesson. Literally, it means if you don’t do something, then it automatically leads to the fact that it is no good. (In other words, you must do it.) However, people tend to use it for situations beyond the natural consequence characterization that we learned from the last section because it’s shorter and easier to use than the other two types of grammar.

• 毎日 学校 に 行かない と だめ です。 Must go to school everyday.
• 宿題 を しない と いけない Have to do homework.

The third method is similar to the second except that it uses a different type of conditional as explained in the last lesson. With the 「ば」 conditional, it can be used for a wider range of situations. Note that since the verb is always negative, for the 「ば」 conditional, we will always be removing the last 「い」 and adding 「ければ」.

• 毎日 学校 に 行かなければ いけません 。 Must go to school everyday.
• 宿題 を しなければ だめ だった。 Had to do homework.

It may seem like I just breezed through a whole lot of material because there are three grammar forms and 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」 adding up to nine possible combinations (3×3). However, some combinations are more common than others but I did not explicitly point out which were more common because any combination is technically correct and going over style would merely confuse at this point. Also, keep in mind that there is nothing essentially new in terms of conjugation rules. We already covered conditionals in the last lesson and adding the wa particle to the te-form in the beginning of this section.

※ Reality Check

Although we spent the last section explaining 「～なければ」 and 「～なくては」, the reality is that because they are so long, they are practically never used in real conversations. While they are often used in a written context, in actual speech, people usually use the 「と」 conditional or the various shortcuts described below. In casual speech, the 「と」 conditional is the most prevalent type of conditional. Though I explained in depth the meaning associated with the 「と」 conditional, you have to take it with a grain of salt here because people are inherently lazy.

Various short-cuts for the lazy

• 勉強 【べん・きょう】 – study
• ご飯 【ご・はん】 – rice; meal
• 食べる 【た・べる】 (ru-verb) – to eat
• 死ぬ 【し・ぬ】 (u-verb) – to die

You may have been grumbling and complaining about how long most of the expressions are just to say you must do something. You can end up with up to eight additional syllables just to say “I have to…”!

Well, others have thought the same before and people usually use short abbreviated versions of 「なくては」 and 「なければ」 in casual speech. Teachers are often reluctant to teach these overly familiar expressions because they are so much easier to use which is bad for times when they might not be appropriate. But, on the other hand, if you don’t learn casual expressions, it makes it difficult to understand your friends (or would-be friends if you only knew how to speak less stiffly!). So here they are but take care to properly practice the longer forms so that you will be able to use them for the appropriate occasions.

• Simply replace 「なくて」 with 「なくちゃ」
• Simply replace 「なければ」 with 「なきゃ」

Right now, you may be saying, “What the?” because the “abbreviations” are about the same length as what we’ve already covered. The secret here is that, unlike the expressions we learned so far, you can just leave the 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」 part out altogether!

• 勉強 し なくちゃ 。 Gotta study.
• ご飯 を 食べ なきゃ 。 Gotta eat.

The 「と」 conditional is also used by itself to imply 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」.

• 学校 に 行かない と 。 Gotta go to school.

There is another 「ちゃ」 abbreviation for things that you must not do . However, in this case, you cannot leave out 「 だめ ／ いけない ／ならない」. Since this is a casual abbreviation, 「 だめ 」 is used in most cases.

One very important difference for this casual form is that verbs that end in 「む」、「ぶ」、「ぬ」 use 「じゃ」 instead of 「ちゃ」. Essentially, all the verbs that end in 「んだ」 for past tense fall in this category.

• Replace 「ては」 with 「ちゃ」
• Replace 「では」 with 「じゃ」
• ここ に 入っちゃ だめ だよ。 You can’t enter here.
• 死んじゃ だめ だよ！ – You can’t die!

On a final note, in general, 「ちゃ」 sounds a bit cutesy or girly. You’ve already seen an example of this with the 「ちゃん」 suffix. Similarly, 「なくちゃ」 also sounds a bit cutesy or childish.

Saying something is ok to do or not do

• 全部 【ぜん・ぶ】 – everything
• いい (i-adj) – good
• 飲む 【の・む】 (u-verb) – to drink
• 大丈夫 【だい・じょう・ぶ】 (na-adj) – ok
• 構う 【かま・う】 (u-verb) – to mind; to be concerned about
• もう – already
• 帰る 【かえ・る】 (u-verb) – to go home
• これ – this
• ちょっと – just a little
• 見る 【み・る】 (ru-verb) – to see

Now let’s learn how to say either that it’s ok to do or not do something. I decided to shove this section in here because in Japanese, this is essential how to say that you don’t have to something (by saying it’s ok to not do it). The grammar itself is also relatively easy to pick up and makes for a short section.

By simply using the te-form and the 「も」 particle, you are essentially saying, “even if you do X…” Common words that come after this include 「 いい 」, 「 大丈夫 」, or 「 構わない 」. Some examples will come in handy.

• 全部 食べ ても いい よ。 You can go ahead and eat it all. (lit: Even if you eat it all, it’s good, you know.)
• 全部 食べなく ても いい よ。 You don’t have to eat it all. (lit: Even if you don’t eat it all, it’s good, you know.)
• 全部 飲ん でも 大丈夫 だよ。 It’s ok if you drink it all. (lit: Even if you drink it all, it’s OK, you know.)
• 全部 飲ん でも 構わない よ。 I don’t mind if you drink it all. (lit: Even if you drink it all, I don’t mind, you know.)

In casual speech, 「～ても いい 」 sometimes get shortened to just 「～て いい 」 （or 「～で いい 」 instead of 「～でも いい 」 ）.

• もう 帰っ て いい ？ Can I go home already?
• これ 、 ちょっと 見 て いい ？ Can I take a quick look at this?

Table of Contents

Conjugating する, noun + する (する verbs), する for "to do", する for "to have" or "to take", する for "to make", する for "to play", する for "to wear (accessories)", 〜にする for selecting or deciding something, price + する for indicating how much something costs, する for what you do for a living, 〜を + い-adjective く form + する, する with adverbs, する with onomatopoeia, 〜がする for reporting sensations and feelings.

する is a versatile verb that basically means "to perform an action," and there's a lot of similarity between する and its English equivalent, "to do." Both can refer to an action in general, for example, without specifying what that action is:

• I'll do it.

Of course, you can also use it when you want to specify what kind of action you're doing. Let's take a look at an example using 宿題 (homework):

• to do homework

However, する and "to do" aren't always interchangeable. There are meanings that only "to do" has, and there are also a number of uses that are unique to する. For instance, you wouldn't say "to do" when putting on accessories in English, like "to do a necklace," but it is common to use する for putting on accessories in Japanese.

• to put on a necklace

And, this is just the tip of the iceberg — する is a must-know verb that is very versatile and useful to keep in your pocket. Read on, and you'll find out all kinds of ways you can use する!

To master the useful する verb, you should first know how to conjugate it. する is an irregular verb, which means that there are no other verbs that conjugate the way it does. Conjugating する is pretty straightforward though. As seen in the below table, only the base form する begins with す (su). When you conjugate it, you'll have to change す to し (shi). Then, instead of る, you'll use different polite or plain endings like ます or た .

Patterns of Use

Now, let's take a look at how する can be used in sentences. Since it has many different applications, you often see it paired up with various particles or other grammar components. Note however that you will see する following a noun most of the time. There may be a particle between the two, but the noun usually comes first. This is because する is like a generic placeholder verb — it is often used when actions don't have their own verbs to describe them. In these cases, actions usually have a name (noun form) instead. For example, 宿題 (homework) is a noun, and it doesn't have a specific verb that describes the action of doing homework. So you use する, or "to do," as a verb. In the following sections, we'll take a closer look at common patterns used with する.

When する is used for a specific action, it is generally used with the particle を because it marks an object (in this case, the thing being done).

• to do the laundry

Sometimes, particles other than を can be used to mark an object and express a different meaning. For example, imagine your mom asks you about your homework when you're playing a video game. To say "I'll do my homework too" (in addition to all that gaming), you can replace を with the particle も (meaning "too") and say:

• I'll do my homework too.

Next, your mom asks you to help her with some house chores. To tell her you'll do the laundry but not the other chores, you can replace を with the particle は to mark the comparison, like:

• I'll do the laundry (but not other chores).

You can also use する when selecting something (from a number of options). In this case, the thing you're selecting is marked by the particle に .

Say you're in a donut shop, deciding what kind of donut to buy. When you've made your final decision, you might use 〜にする and say:

• I'll go with this one.

〜にする can also be used with a different meaning, "to change the state of something/someone (else)," but we'll talk about that usage later on.

You can also use する to report on sensations like smell and taste, or on feelings you experience. In this case, the sensation or feeling is marked by the particle が .

For example, if you wake up and smell coffee, you can use 〜がする with コーヒーのにおい (smell of coffee) and say:

• コーヒーのにおい がする 。
• I smell coffee. ( Literally : It smells of coffee.)

We'll see more examples of this use later on this page .

する can turn a variety of nouns into verbs, and these noun-based verbs are called する verbs. Many of the words that する can make into verbs are compound words of Chinese origin (Sino-Japanese), such as 旅行 (travel). In other words, if the word is made of multiple kanji with on'yomi readings, that's a good sign that you could just attach する at the end and use it as a verb. And of course, the noun should be something actionable/doable, like "travel."

It's also common to use する with loanwords from other countries, such as ドライブ (drive).

Note you can often use the particle を to mark the compound or loan word itself as the direct object of する, such as 旅行 を する or ドライブ を する. The two versions technically mean the same thing, but the one with を puts a little more emphasis on the specific action — not on the doing itself, in other words, but on what you're doing. If it helps, you can kind of imagine the noun that を marks as being underlined.

As said in the beginning, する has a number of uses that are akin to the English "to do." The most prevalent ones are everyday tasks, such as 洗い物をする (to do the dishes) or 洗濯をする (to do the laundry). Here is a list of some examples, with some nonstandard translations given in parentheses.

Another example is workout-related expressions that use する in Japanese and "to do" in English. Many workout actions don't have a specific verb, so it's common to use する to express them.

To express certain activities, especially occasions that involve other people, like a party or a meeting, it's common to use "to have" in English. There are also activities that you express with the verb "to take," like a walk or a trip. However, in Japanese, we can often use する instead, for the nouns that usually combine with "have" or "take" in English.

Here are some examples:

You should also know that while する is a versatile verb that works for all this, some of these activities could also be described with more specific verbs too. You can say お茶を飲む (to drink tea), for example, or パーティーを開く ("to have a party" in Japanese; literally "to open a party").

する can also be used as a translation for some of the English expressions that use "to make." When する is used this way, it is commonly used when preparing something or making a public announcement.

する can also mean "to play" when playing a game, sport, or role.

Be aware that instruments are an exception! You don't normally use する for playing instruments. Instead, you'd usually use a word like 弾く (to play) or 演奏する (to perform).

• to play the guitar
• to give a piano performance

However, する can be used to describe a state in which someone is practicing music habitually. For example, if you found out your friend is taking piano lessons, you can use the ている form of する and say:

• え、ピアノ してる の？
• Oh, you're taking piano lessons?

Note that the particle を is often omitted in casual conversation, as above.

Even though there's another verb, 付ける, which can be used for wearing accessories, する can also come into play when putting on accessories such as jewelry, glasses, scarves, ties, and so on. So if you're planning to put on a red necktie tomorrow, you could say:

• 明日は赤いネクタイを する 。
• I'll put on a red necktie tomorrow.

Note that if you want to say you're currently wearing the accessories in question, you'll commonly change する to している (the ている form ). To say you're wearing a red necktie today, for example:

• 今日は赤いネクタイを している 。
• I'm wearing a red necktie today.

For more examples of this use, check out the below list!

You've already seen some examples of how 〜にする is used when selecting something, but let's do a quick review. Imagine you're in a cafe with your friend and you're looking at the menu to figure out what to order. To ask your friend which one they're thinking of choosing, you can use 〜にする with the question word どれ (which one) and say:

• Which one are you going to pick?

Then, if your friend decides on the cake set, they may say:

• ケーキセット にする 。
• I'm gonna do the cake set.

Piece of cake, right? This nuance of 〜にする can also be applied when you're deciding what to do. For example, say you're studying with your friend when your stomach grumbles. If you want to take a break for lunch, you can ask:

• そろそろランチ にする ？
• Want to do lunch soon?

In this example, 〜にする implies that the action in question can be taken at your discretion — or the listener's. It lets them know the decision is still theirs, so it's suitable for when you want to softly suggest that it's time to do something.

Beyond the Basics

When following an amount of money, する can also indicate how much something costs. This use of する is often used when you feel the cost is too expensive.

• Oh no, it costs 10,000 yen!

It's also common to emphasize the amount of money using the particle も .

• げ、一万円 も する！

する can also be used to talk about your occupation or the role you play (at work, on a team, and so on). For example, if you were assigned to be a team leader at work, you can use チームリーダー with する and say:

• チームリーダーを する ことになった。
• It turns out that I will be the team leader.

For an occupation or role, you can also conjugate する to している (the ている form ) to show it's an ongoing state. So if your brother is a police officer, you can say:

• 兄は警察官を している 。
• My older brother works as a police officer.

And if you are explaining that you work as a manager, you can say:

• マネージャーを しています 。
• I work as a manager.

〜を〜にする for "Turning … Into …"

When you turn one thing into another thing (like water into wine or lead into gold, for example), you can use 〜にする to express that change in state. In this usage, you mark what you are changing with the particle を and mark the result of a change of state with the particle に .

The result of the change (the part marked by に) can be a noun, such as 社長 (company president).

• カナエ を 社長 にする 。
• I'll make Kanae the company president.

Or, it can also be a な-adjective, such as 簡単 (easy).

• テスト を 簡単 にする 。
• I'll make the test easy.

Note in this pattern, the 〜を part is often omitted when it's obvious from the context or situation.

The use of する as "to turn … into …" can also work with い-adjectives. When the result of a change of state is described with an い-adjective, you'll need to turn it into the く form and add する, instead of adding 〜にする.

For example, the く form of かわいい (cute) is かわいく, so if you're styling your hair in a cute way, you can say:

• 髪型 を かわいく する 。
• I'll make my hairstyle cute.

する can also be attached to adverbs. By adverbs, I mean words like ゆっくり (slowly), the adverb form of い-adjectives , such as 早く (quickly) or 強く (strongly), or the adverb form of a な-adjective, such as 大事に.

When する comes right after adverbs, it indicates the act of doing something in a certain manner. For example, if you're being slow preparing for school in the morning, your mom might use 早くする and say:

• Hurry up! ( Literally : Do it quickly!)

Many of these combinations are also employed as idioms. For instance, ゆっくりする can mean not only "to do something slowly" but also "to enjoy doing something at your own pace." As a result, it's a typical expression used to advise a guest to "make themselves at home," "enjoy their stay," "take it easy," or something along those lines.

• ゆっくりしてくださいね。
• Enjoy your stay.

Here's another example of a common adverb-する pair: 大事にする. This indicates the act of "treating something with care." Therefore, it's used when you look after someone or when you treasure something. For example, if you have a girlfriend, someone may give you advice such as:

• 彼女のこと、大事にするんだぞ！
• You should look after your girlfriend.

Remember how する can be used when turning something into something else ? It's the same idea here — the combination of an adverb and する can indicate the act of changing something's condition a certain way — in other words, it can indicate a willful change . Let's say you're in the backseat of a car and it's too hot. You want to ask someone in the front seat to turn up the A/C. For that, you can use 強くする and say:

• 冷房、もうちょっと強くしてくれない？
• Can you turn up the A/C a little more?

する can directly attach to an onomatopoeic word and turn it into a verb as well. For example, する can be added to ドキドキ (onomatopoeia for heartbeats):

• to be nervous/thrilled

Japanese onomatopoeia is often a repetition of the same sound, such as ドキドキ. It's to represent that the sound or action repeats or continues. On the other hand, if it's used only once, it expresses a momentary sound or action. When the unrepeated version consists of one or two syllables, you usually need to add っ/ッ with と between the word and する.

• to feel shocked
• to be stunned

If the unrepeated onomatopoeia has more than two syllables, you can simply add 〜とする directly.

• to get startled

する can also be used to report your sensations. In this case, you use the particle が to mark the sensation. So let's say you've lost your sense of taste or smell due to a temporary illness. When you've recovered and notice you can taste or smell things again, you may use 〜がする and say:

• I can taste it. ( Literally : It has a taste.)
• I can smell it. ( Literally : It has a smell.)

But unless you're in a unique situation like this one where you realize you can suddenly taste or smell again, the sensations you report are normally more descriptive. For example, if you pop a candy in your mouth and find it's strawberry-flavored, you could say:

• イチゴの味 がする 。
• This tastes like strawberry.

When you're starving and you smell something delicious cooking, you may say:

• いいにおい がする 。
• I smell something good. ( Literally : It smells good.)

You can also use 〜がする when describing how you feel. For example, if you're sad, you can say:

• 悲しい気持ち がする 。
• I feel sad.

When you use 〜がする, however, it sounds like you're more objectively describing how you feel. You might use it while communicating your feelings to others, but when simply expressing your sad emotion, it's more common just to say 悲しい (I'm sad).

Since 〜がする indicates that you're articulating a sense, it's suitable when you suspect that something is the case or something might happen. For example, if you're watching a detective show and suspect a mail carrier is the culprit, you can say:

• あの郵便屋さんが犯人な気 がする 。
• I have a feeling that the mail carrier is the culprit.

Also, if you are positive that you will be able to visit Japan this year, you can say:

• 今年は日本に行ける気 がする 。
• I have a feeling that I can go to Japan this year.

Voice speed

Text translation, source text, translation results, document translation, drag and drop.

Website translation

Enter a URL

Image translation

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Japanese Particles Master

particles for perfection

May 28, 2022 By Masaki Mori Leave a Comment

Shukudai is the Japanese word for ‘homework’, explained

What does “shukudai” mean in japanese.

Native speakers use shukudai to mean ‘homework’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand shukudai more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Definition and meaning of “shukudai”

How to say “homework” in japanese, another example of “shukudai”.

Let me start with the definition and meaning of shukudai .

• shukudai – 宿題 (しゅくだい) : a noun meaning ‘homework’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this noun to refer to a task or tasks to do at home after school. So, the usage is very similar to that of the English noun, homework , I think.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.

Shukudai in kanji

The kanji expression of shukudai consists of the following two kanji characters:

• 宿 : a kanji character used to refer to a place where people stay.
• 題 : a kanji character used to mean a ‘theme’, ‘subject’, ‘question’, or ‘problem’ in Japanese.

From these two kanji characters, we can understand that shukudai literally means ‘a place where people stay and questions’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meaning, but still understandable, I think. Homework is often a set of questions which people need to solve at home.

When we meet new kanji expressions, we should check their kanji characters in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji characters tell us a lot about the meanings of the expressions they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of shukudai through the detailed kanji check above.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of shukudai together with its kanji characters. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.

kyou wa shukudai ga takusan aru – 今日は宿題がたくさんある (きょうはしゅくだいがたくさんある) Today, I have a lot of homework.

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works as a topic marker after kyou to put a focus on it.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after shukudai to make the subject in the sentence.
• takusan – たくさん : an adverb of quantity meaning ‘many’, ‘much’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works to emphasize the amount of the homework.
• aru – ある : a verb meaning ‘to be’, ‘to exist’, ‘to present’, or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of shukudai . In this example, it works as a part of the commonly-used phrase, shukudai ga aru , which literally means ‘homework exists’ in Japanese. This phrase is often translated into English as ‘to have homework’, though.

boku wa shukudai wo katazuke mashi ta – 僕は宿題を片付けました (ぼくはしゅくだいをかたづけました) I finished my homework.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after shukudai to make the object in the sentence.
• katazuke – 片付け (かたづけ) : one conjugation of the verb, katazukeru , which means ‘to clean’, ‘to clear’, ‘to finish’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• mashi – まし : one conjugation of the auxiliary verb, masu , which is used after a verb to make it polite. In the example, this is used after katazuke to make it sound polite.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form. In the example, this is used at the end of the verb phrase to mean ‘to have finished’ in Japanese.

This is another example of shukudai . In this example, it works together with the case particle, wo , to become the object in the sentence. When we want to mean ‘homework’ in Japanese, anyway, this noun is always a very good option.

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of shukudai in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• shukudai – 宿題 (しゅくだい) : a noun meaning ‘homework’ in Japanese. Native speakers use this noun to refer to a task or tasks to do at home after school. So, the usage of this noun is very similar to that of the English one, homework . These two kanji characters literally mean ‘a place where people stay and questions’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meaning, but still understandable, I think. Homework is often a set of questions which people need to solve at home.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.

• Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
• Share on Pinterest Share on Pinterest
• Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Reddit Share on Reddit
• Share via Email Share via Email

Recent Posts

• Komorebi is the Japanese word for ‘sunlight through leaves’
• Nikkouyoku is the Japanese word for ‘sunbathing’, explained
• Shinrinyoku is the Japanese word for ‘forest bathing’, explained
• Hatsutaiken is the Japanese word for ‘first experience’
• Hatsuyuki is the Japanese word for ‘first snow of the season’

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Private Lessons
• translation

Written by Masaki Mori

Follow Me on Social Media

Learn How to Say Homework in Japanese

In this article, you will learn how to say “homework” in Japanese, along with its meaning, pronunciation, equivalent words, and cultural usage. Whether you are studying Japanese or need to communicate about your study tasks with Japanese speakers, knowing the appropriate term is essential. Let’s dive in!

The Japanese Term for Homework

In Japanese, the term for homework is “syukudai”（宿題）. This word is used to describe the assignments or tasks given to students that are meant to be completed outside of school. Whether you are learning Japanese or need to communicate about your study tasks with Japanese speakers, it is important to familiarize yourself with this term. Remember to pronounce it as “syukudai” to ensure clear and accurate communication.

Understanding the term “syukudai” will greatly assist you in your Japanese language journey or when interacting with Japanese speakers regarding study-related tasks. Embrace this fundamental word to enhance your communication skills.

How to Say Homework in Japanese

To say “homework” in Japanese, you can use the word “syukudai”（しゅくだい＝宿題）. This term is a direct translation of the English word and can be easily understood by native Japanese speakers. When pronouncing “syukudai,” remember to emphasize the second syllable, “ku.” This will help you communicate the word clearly and accurately.

If you’re wondering how to spell “homework” in Japanese, it is written as “しゅくだい” or “宿題”. Learning how to say and spell “homework” in different languages can be beneficial, especially if you’re studying a foreign language or planning to travel to a country where Japanese is spoken.

Here is a table summarizing the different ways to express “homework” in Japanese:

Knowing these translations can be useful when discussing different subjects or types of assignments with Japanese speakers. Remember to replace the subject of the homework with the appropriate word, such as math, English, science, or history, to specify the type of assignment.

Other Ways to Express Homework in Japanese

While the most common word for homework in Japanese is “syukudai”（宿題）, there are other phrases that can be used to express this concept. These alternative phrases can be used interchangeably with “syukudai” depending on the context and level of formality.

Here are two other phrases commonly used to refer to homework in Japanese:

These phrases provide additional options for expressing the concept of homework in Japanese. Depending on the situation, you can choose to use “syukudai,” “gakushu no jimu,” or “gakushu shido” to convey the idea of homework effectively in the Japanese language.

Common Examples of Homework in Japanese

When it comes to expressing different types of homework in Japanese, there are several common examples that can be useful to know. Here are a few:

• Math homework: In Japanese, you would say “suugaku no syukudai”（数学の宿題）.
• English homework: The term for English homework is “eigo no syukudai”（英語の宿題）.
• Science homework: To refer to science homework, you would say “rika no syukudai”（理科の宿題）.
• History homework: The term for history homework is “rekishi no syukudai”（歴史の宿題）.

Remember to replace the subject of the homework with the appropriate word, such as math, English, science, or history, to specify the type of assignment. With these examples, you will be better equipped to communicate about specific homework assignments when speaking Japanese.

What is the Japanese word for homework?

How do you say homework in japanese, are there other ways to express homework in japanese, can you provide some examples of how to express different types of homework in japanese, leave a comment cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Translation of homework – English–Japanese dictionary

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

(Translation of homework from the Cambridge English–Japanese Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translation of homework | GLOBAL English–Japanese Dictionary

(Translation of homework from the GLOBAL English-Japanese Dictionary © 2022 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Examples of homework

Translations of homework.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

to press the button on the left of a computer mouse in order to make the computer do something

Robbing, looting, and embezzling: talking about stealing

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English–Japanese    Noun
• do your homework
• Translations
• All translations

To add homework to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add homework to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

How to say homework in Japanese

• homework ; assignment
• pending issue; unresolved problem; open question

Example Sentences

© Based on JMdict , KANJIDIC2 , and JMnedict , property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group , used in conformance with the Group's licence . Example sentences from the Tatoeba project (CC BY 2.0). Kanji stroke order data from the KanjiVG project by Ulrich Apel (CC BY-SA 3.0). See comprehensive list of data sources for more info.

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

What is the difference between these four forms of "to do"?

There are at least four verbs that mean "to do" in Japanese: する, なさる, いたす, and やる. What is the purpose of each, and when is it appropriate to use them?

• There's also おこなう and probably a few more! –  sartak Commented Jun 1, 2011 at 13:56
• @sartak: Edited the question to give it a bit more focus. –  Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Commented Jun 1, 2011 at 13:58
• +1 nice question :D –  Alenanno Commented Jun 1, 2011 at 14:04

する is the most general, neither too polite nor too formal. やる is more informal and could tend to lean toward rudeness. Note that やる cannot replace する in sino-Japanese compounds. For example, 電話する could not change to 電話やる. なさる is keigo (尊敬語), used for someone "higher" than yourself. いたす is humble keigo (謙譲語), referring humbly to yourself or others in your group.

Usage-wise, there is not much difference between them, except for what I noted above.

• 2 Ah, but 宿題をやる and 掃除をやる are perfectly valid constructions, so it's not always the case that やる can't replace する with 漢語. (And in more informal settings, the を is dropped, such as in 宿題やった？) (But 電話(を)やる certainly sounds odd; the line dictating when you can switch out one for the other is a fuzzy one.) –  Derek Schaab Commented Jun 1, 2011 at 14:28
• @Derek: The line is not fuzzy. Yaru is a more rude version of suru (to make it simple) just like istrasci said. Use it carefully, it also means to have sex (using the F word) or to kill. As for the dropping of the を particle in 宿題やった is not grammatically correct. This is spoken and very familiar Japanese. About "to phone", the verb is 電話する. This is 1 verb and you cannot add a particle. Whereas "to do homework" has no verb but a combination of a noun+verb. Thus the need for particle + する (or やる　if very familiar or impolite) –  repecmps Commented Jun 1, 2011 at 14:52
• 3 @repecmps: Thank you for your comment. I am aware of the additional definitions of やる which you kindly pointed out, but in my comment I was specifically referring to the combination of やる with Chinese-derived words. While 宿題やった may not be "grammatically correct", it is allowable in an appropriate (casual) setting. Finally, 電話する may in fact include the particle を to become 電話をする. To verify this, simply search Google for the phrase "電話をする" (including the quotes). These forms are identical in meaning and acceptable for use anywhere. –  Derek Schaab Commented Jun 1, 2011 at 15:04
• 2 Btw is it true that 電話いたします is considered ungrammatical, or is it simply that it is grammatical, but altogether a different "grammar" compared to 電話をいたします ? –  Pacerier Commented Aug 31, 2011 at 21:14

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged verbs ..

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• We've made changes to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy - July 2024
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• Shift right by half a trit
• HTTPs compression, CSRF and mobile apps
• Automotive Controller LDO Failures
• Would a manned Mars landing be possible with Apollo-era technology?
• Shifted accordingly
• How are USB-C cables so thin?
• WW2 Bombers continuing on one of 2 or 4 engines, how would that work?
• What is the lowest feasible depth for lightly-armed military submarines designed around the 1950s-60s?
• How to deal with a boss that is using non-related arguments in a dissent?
• Could a 3D sphere of fifths reveal more insights than the 2D circle of fifths?
• Why did evolution fail to protect humans against sun?
• Can I continue using technology after it is patented
• Indian passport holder - Schengen visa extension
• Did the devil stake a claim to the dead body of Moses?
• Rock paper scissor game in Javascript
• How to declutter a mobile app home screen with a floating “Create Video” component?
• The word "let" as in "without let or hindrance"
• Counter in Loop
• Why didn't Walter White choose to work at Gray Matter instead of becoming a drug lord in Breaking Bad?
• Sums of X*Y chunks of the nonnegative integers
• Isn't an appeal to emotions in fact necessary to validate our ethical decisions?
• Claims of "badness" without a moral framework?
• How to define a function in Verilog?
• Probability for the sum of two dice

Words for I do my homework in Japanese

Learn the most common words for i do my homework in japanese. click on a word for more information and translations., related topics, as a human, i..., ready to learn japanese, language drops is a fun, visual language learning app. learn japanese free today..

• Drops for Business
• Visual Dictionary (Word Drops)
• Recommended Resources
• Redeem Gift
• Join Our Translator Team
• Help and FAQ

Drops Courses

What's the opposite of Meaning of the word Words that rhyme with Sentences with the word Translate to Find Words Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces Find the of Pronounce the word in Find Names     Appearance ✓ Use device theme   ✓ Dark theme ✓ Light theme in Japanese word for ? Here's a list of translations. noun Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250] go Word Tools Finders & Helpers Apps More Synonyms Copyright WordHippo © 2024 Translation of “homework” in Japanese 1 translation entry available homework noun 宿題 しゅくだい shukudai Word of the day: delivery · デリバリー Browse by Letter Use our dictionary's search form to translate English to Japanese and translate Japanese to English. "more translation" means that there is more than one translation. English (US) How do you say this in Japanese? "i have to do my homework" in Japanese Report copyright infringement Show answer from the AI monga Formal translation: 「宿題をしなければなりません。」(Shukudai o shinakereba narimasen.) Casual translation: 「宿題をしなきゃ。Shukudai o shinakya.) Explanation: In Japanese, the phrase "I have to do my homework" can be translated formally as 「宿題をしなければなりません。」(Shukudai o shinakereba narimasen.) This translation is appropriate for formal situations, such as speaking to a teacher or a superior. For a more casual translation, you can say 「宿題をしなきゃ。」(Shukudai o shinakya.) This version is commonly used in casual friends or peers. It is a shortened form of the formal translation and is more relaxed in tone. Please note that the level of formality in Japanese is important, and it is essential to use the appropriate translation based on the context and the relationship between the speaker and the listener. AI monga is an AI specialized for language learning and cultural exchange and can answer questions automatically! We are currently in beta Supplementary text, images, audio, or external links are not recognized Results generated may include inaccurate, biased, or misleading information Please consider not only AI_monga's answers, but also answers provided by other users If you have a problem with an answer given by AI monga, help the questioner by giving your own answer! Beta version is available for free! We will gradually improve AI monga's answers and this service. Please stay tuned! @hachlap 宿題しなきゃいけないんだよ Was this answer helpful? Why did you respond with "Hmm..."? Your feedback will not be shown to other users. わたしは　(わたしの)宿題　を すること　になる。 →私は宿題をしなくてはならない。or私は宿題をせねばならない。these are hard express versions. →私は宿題をしなくてはなりません。or私は宿題をせねばなりません。formal version p.s. home=家→宿(やど:stay,pending) work=仕事→題(だい:assignment) How do you say this in Japanese? I love you How do you say this in Japanese? i love you How do you say this in English (US)? is it “ unmiraculous or unm miraculous “? How do you say this in English (US)? avere ragione/ torto (legal field) be right/ mistaken ? How do you say this in English (US)? 我刚下载了app How do you say this in English (US)? 牛逼 How do you say this in English (US)? Can I say, it's not my blame How do you say this in English (US)? Duolingoでタイ語を勉強したいです How do you say this in English (US)? なぜDuolingoにタイ語がないのですか？ How do you say this in English (US)? 나는 시험에서 그문제를 꼭 맞추고싶었는데 결국 틀렸어. How do you say this in English (US)? 안녕 How do you say this in English (US)? 最近飲みに行ってる？ 🤔How can I say this better? 【The unbalanced population mobility led to greater medical pressure i... Wich word is more common in the daily life ?? When you speak about convenience stores?? - 콘비니 (c... The Language Level symbol shows a user's proficiency in the languages they're interested in. Setting your Language Level helps other users provide you with answers that aren't too complex or too simple. Has difficulty understanding even short answers in this language. Can ask simple questions and can understand simple answers. Can ask all types of general questions and can understand longer answers. Can understand long, complex answers. Show your appreciation in a way that likes and stamps can't. By sending a gift to someone, they will be more likely to answer your questions again! If you post a question after sending a gift to someone, your question will be displayed in a special section on that person’s feed. Ask native speakers questions for free Solve your problems more easily with the app! Find the answer you're looking for from 45 million answers logged! Enjoy the auto-translate feature when searching for answers! It’s FREE!! How do you say this in ... 308 IMAGES How to say "Homework" in Japanese How to write Homework in Japanese Kids' Summer Homework in Japan: With Friends Like These How to Learn Japanese on Your Own JAPANESE HOMEWORK DURING SUMMER! Do japanese students get homework COMMENTS Mastering the Phrase: How to Say Homework in Japanese The most commonly used phrase for "homework" in Japanese is "shukudai" (宿題), which is also the most casual and familiar. For a more formal or academic context, "kadai" (課題) can be used instead. In addition to these phrases, Japanese educators may use the term "jishu gakushu" (自主学習) when referring to self-study or ... Expressing "must" or "have to" In life, there are things that we must or must not do whether it's taking out the trash or doing our homework. We will cover how to say this in Japanese because it is a useful expression and it also ties in well with the previous section. We will also learn how to the say the expression, "You don't have to…" to finish off this section. する for "To Do" To say "I'll do my homework too" (in addition to all that gaming), you can replace を with the particle も (meaning "too") and say: 宿題もする。 I'll do my homework too. Next, your mom asks you to help her with some house chores. To tell her you'll do the laundry but not the other chores, you can replace を with the particle は to ... Google Translate Google's service, offered free of charge, instantly translates words, phrases, and web pages between English and over 100 other languages. Shukudai is the Japanese word for 'homework', explained shukudai - 宿題 (しゅくだい) : a noun meaning 'homework' in Japanese. Native speakers use this noun to refer to a task or tasks to do at home after school. So, the usage of this noun is very similar to that of the English one, homework. These two kanji characters literally mean 'a place where people stay and questions' in Japanese. Learn How to Say Homework in Japanese How to Say Homework in Japanese. To say "homework" in Japanese, you can use the word "syukudai"（しゅくだい＝宿題）. This term is a direct translation of the English word and can be easily understood by native Japanese speakers. When pronouncing "syukudai," remember to emphasize the second syllable, "ku.". This will ... How to say "Homework" in Japanese This video demonstrates "How to say Homework in Japanese"Talk with a native teacher on italki: https://foreignlanguage.center/italkiLearn Japnese with Japane... HOMEWORK in Japanese HOMEWORK translate: 宿題, 宿題（しゅくだい）. Learn more in the Cambridge English-Japanese Dictionary. What is "Homework" in Japanese and how to say it? What is "Homework" in Japanese and how to say it? American English. homework. Japanese. しゅくだい. Learn the word in this minigame: Loading WebApp... Nihongo o Narau To do homework is shukudai o shimasu. The verb "to do" is shimasu. Let's try a few sample sentences now. Examples: Mainichi, nihongo o renshuu shimasu. ... The day after tomorrow I will do Japanese homework. Kinou, suugaku no shukudai o shimasen deshita. I didn't do the math homework yesterday. Lesson 10 Vocabulary: ichinensei ninensei ... How to say homework in Japanese How to say homework in Japanese. JLPT N5. 宿 題 ☆【 しゅくだい shukudai 】. noun: homework; assignment. pending issue; unresolved problem; open question. How to say "I do my homework." in Japanese. Japanese. You do your homework. あなたは宿題をします。. あなたは宿題をします。. He does his homework. 彼は宿題をします。. We do our homework. 私たちは宿題をします。. You all do your homework. Translate "HOMEWORK" from English into Japanese homework. (hoʊmwɜrk ) 1. uncountable noun. Homework is schoolwork that teachers give to students to do at home in the evening or on the weekend. 宿題. Have you done your homework, Gemma? ジェマ，宿題は済んだの？. 2. uncountable noun. If you do your homework, you find out what you need to know in preparation for something. What is the difference between these four forms of "to do"? As for the dropping of the を particle in 宿題やった is not grammatically correct. This is spoken and very familiar Japanese. About "to phone", the verb is 電話する. This is 1 verb and you cannot add a particle. Whereas "to do homework" has no verb but a combination of a noun+verb. Top 8 Words for I do my homework in Japanese. Words for I do my homework in Japanese. Learn the most common words for I do my homework in Japanese. Click on a word for more information and translations. How to say homework in Japanese What's the Japanese word for homework? Here's a list of translations. Japanese Translation. 宿題. Shukudai. More Japanese words for homework. 宿題 noun. Shukudai homework. How do you say "I do homework" in Japanese? Casual translation: 「宿題をする」 (Shukudai o suru) Explanation in Japanese (説明): この文は、「I do homework」という英語の文を日本語に翻訳したものです。. フォーマルな翻訳では、「宿題をします」と表現しました。. この表現は、丁寧な言い方であり、敬語を使用して ... Homework 1 translation entry available: English: homework: Type: noun: Japanese: 宿題: Hiragana: しゅくだい: Pronunciation: shukudai: Example: Do my homework for me ... Japanese translation of 'homework' Japanese Translation of "HOMEWORK" | The official Collins English-Japanese Dictionary online. Over 100,000 Japanese translations of English words and phrases. how do you say "homework" in Japanese? Ask something else. "homework" is "syukudai".（syukudai＝しゅくだい＝宿題）|宿題 しゅくだい shukudai. How do you say ""i have to do my homework" in Japanese" in Japanese How do you say this in Japanese? "i have to do my homework" in Japanese. See a translation Report copyright infringement How to buy Japanese stocks in 2024 A case in point: As of July 31, 2024, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index returned 150% over the last 10 years. That's not far off the 186% returned by the S&P 500 stock market index over the ... essay homework paper phd review speech study thesis