補習（ほしゅう、hoshuu）
- supplementary lesson

The Japanese word 補習, read as ほしゅう (hosyuu), refers to supplementary lessons, extra classes, or remedial instruction. It's essentially additional teaching provided to students to help them understand concepts they are struggling with, or to reinforce material covered in regular classes. It is usually taken after school hours, during weekends, or sometimes during school breaks. The goal is to provide 補習 to improve a student's grasp of the subject matter. This can cover a wide range of subjects, from basic math and reading to more advanced topics. The need for 補習 can arise from various factors, such as difficulty understanding the regular curriculum, absence from regular classes, or a desire for further study.

⚫︎ 数学の補習 Translation: Math supplementary lessons. ⚫︎ 補習を受ける。 Translation: To take supplementary lessons. ⚫︎ 夏休みに補習に参加する。 Translation: To participate in supplementary lessons during the summer break.

You use 補習 in situations where you are talking about extra classes or remedial education. It's common to discuss 補習 in the context of: ⚫︎A student's need for extra help. ⚫︎School programs. ⚫︎Parents talking about their children's education. ⚫︎Teachers describing support they provide to students. Use the word to describe the activity itself or the classes involved. For example, if someone asks you what your child is doing after school, you could say: 今日は補習です（Today there are supplementary lessons）.

補習 is typically written in kanji as 補習. The reading is ほしゅう in hiragana. It is not generally written in katakana. There are no significant variations in the okurigana; the word always appears as 補習.

There are some words that can be considered synonyms, depending on the context: ⚫︎ 追加授業 (tsuika jugyou) - Additional classes. ⚫︎ 特別授業 (tokubetsu jugyou) - Special lessons. ⚫︎ 個別指導 (kobetsu shidou) - Individual tutoring (can be similar, but more focused one-on-one). ⚫︎ 補講 (hokou) - Make-up class (specifically for missed classes).

There isn't a direct antonym. However, the opposite concept would be a lack of 補習 or perhaps "regular classes" (通常授業- tsūjō jugyō) since 補習 are considered extra, not part of the normal schedule.

彼は数学が苦手なので、毎週補習を受けています。 ・Translation: Because he is not good at math, he takes supplementary lessons every week. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that the student is taking 補習 to improve their math skills, highlighting the remedial nature of the extra classes.

学校は、理解が遅れている生徒のために、放課後に補習を提供しています。 ・Translation: The school offers supplementary lessons after school for students who are falling behind. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates how schools provide 補習 as a resource for students who require additional support.

The word 補習 is composed of two kanji: ⚫︎ 補 (ho) which means "to supplement," "to assist," or "to compensate." ⚫︎ 習 (shuu) which means "to learn," "to practice," or "to study." Therefore, the combined meaning of 補習 reflects its purpose: to provide additional learning and practice to enhance understanding.