授業（じゅぎょう、jugiょu）
- class/lesson

The Japanese word 授業 (じゅぎょう) primarily means "class," "lesson," or "instruction." It refers to a scheduled period of teaching or learning, typically in a school or academic setting. It encompasses the activities, content, and environment associated with a formal educational session. The core idea is the act of imparting knowledge or skills, or the acquisition of them, in a structured context. Think of it as a specific block of time dedicated to learning. The word is often used to describe a wide variety of educational formats.

⚫︎今日授業がありますか？ Translation: Do you have class today? ⚫︎授業が終わった後、友達と遊びます。 Translation: After class finishes, I'll play with my friends. ⚫︎彼は数学の授業をいつも真面目に受けています。 Translation: He always takes math class seriously.

You use 授業 when talking about classes, lessons, and instruction within an educational context. It can refer to any subject taught in school or any formal learning setting. It’s a common word, used daily by students, teachers, and anyone involved in education. You use it to refer to a specific class, to talk about the activities within a class, or to make general statements about your class schedule or the quality of teaching. It is suitable for both formal and informal conversations, depending on the situation.

授業 is typically written in kanji as 授業, with the reading じゅぎょう in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is consistent and does not vary.

There aren't many perfect synonyms in Japanese, but words that are related and convey a similar meaning include: ⚫︎ レッスン (lesson) - this is a borrowed word from English and is often used for language classes or private lessons. ⚫︎ 講義 (こうぎ) - lecture; more formal and often used for university-level instruction. ⚫︎ 科目 (かもく) - subject; this refers to the specific topic being taught.

There isn’t a direct antonym. However, words that express the absence of a lesson or an activity done outside of class can be considered opposites. ⚫︎休み (やすみ) - break, holiday, day off. ⚫︎放課後 (ほうかご) - after school. ⚫︎ 自習 (じしゅう) - self-study.

月曜日の《授業は午前9時に始まります。》 ・Translation: The class on Monday starts at 9 am. ・Explanation: This sentence simply states the time when a class begins, specifying the day.

今日の国語の《授業はとても面白かった。》 ・Translation: Today's Japanese class was very interesting. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses an opinion about the class, stating that it was enjoyable.

The word 授業 is composed of two kanji: 授 (じゅ), which means "to give," "to impart," or "to teach," and 業 (ぎょう), which means "work," "business," or "practice." Together, 授業 literally translates to "giving work" or "imparting practice," which effectively captures the essence of teaching and learning in a structured setting.