Picture this: you’ve just joined your first Japanese class. The teacher says something — fast, confident, completely in Japanese — and everyone around you opens their textbooks. You panic. Was that an instruction? A question? A greeting?
Classroom Japanese is its own mini-dialect. Whether you’re a student sitting in a language class, a teacher running lessons, or someone taking online lessons via Zoom or Skype, knowing the set phrases used in Japanese educational settings will immediately make you feel more at home. This guide covers everything: teacher instructions, student requests, classroom objects, how to ask for clarification, how to express understanding, online lesson phrases, and the polite greetings that open and close every Japanese class.
| Japanese | Reading | English | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 開いてください | あいてください | Please open (it) | Teacher |
| 見てください | みてください | Please look at (this) | Teacher |
| 繰り返してください | くりかえしてください | Please repeat | Teacher |
| 静かにしてください | しずかにしてください | Please be quiet | Teacher |
| わかりません | わかりません | I don’t understand | Student |
| もう一度言ってください | もういちどいってください | Please say it one more time | Student |
| 〜はどういう意味ですか | 〜はどういういみですか | What does ~ mean? | Student |
| 質問があります | しつもんがあります | I have a question | Student |
| よろしくお願いします | よろしくおねがいします | Nice to meet you / Please take care of us | Both |
| お疲れ様でした | おつかれさまでした | Good work / Thank you for your effort | Both |
Teacher's Instructions: What Your Sensei Is Saying
Japanese teachers often give classroom instructions entirely in Japanese — even at beginner level. These four phrases cover the most common commands you’ll hear. They all follow the pattern [verb て-form] + ください, which is the standard polite request form meaning “please do ~.”
開いてください（あいてください） — “Please open (it)”
Used when the teacher wants students to open a textbook, notebook, or webpage. The verb is 開く（あく）→ て-form 開いて + ください.
見てください（みてください） — “Please look at (this)”
Points students toward the board, screen, or a handout. Verb: 見る（みる）→ て-form 見て + ください.
繰り返してください（くりかえしてください） — “Please repeat”
The core of pronunciation drills. The verb 繰り返す（くりかえす）means “to repeat.” You’ll hear this dozens of times in a single lesson.
静かにしてください（しずかにしてください） — “Please be quiet”
Uses the pattern [な-adjective + に] + してください, meaning “please make it ~.” 静か（しずか）means “quiet,” so 静かにしてください = “please make it quiet” = “please be quiet.”
Here is a typical drill sequence:
Yuka教科書の10ページを開いてください。そして、黒板を見てください。(Please open your textbook to page 10. Then please look at the blackboard.)
Reiはい、わかりました！(Yes, understood!)
Student Requests: Making Yourself Understood in Class
As a student, your most important skill is being able to ask for help without breaking the flow of the class. These four phrases will handle almost every situation where you’re lost or need clarification.
わかりません — “I don’t understand”
The most essential phrase for any learner. わかる means “to understand,” and the ません ending makes it polite negative present. Say this clearly and without embarrassment — teachers expect and welcome it.
もう一度言ってください（もういちどいってください） — “Please say it one more time”
Breaks down as: もう一度（もういちど）= “one more time” + 言って（いって、て-form of 言う）+ ください = “please say.” You can also say もう少しゆっくり言ってください（もうすこしゆっくりいってください）= “please say it a little more slowly.”
〜はどういう意味ですか（〜はどういういみですか） — “What does ~ mean?”
Replace 〜 with the word you don’t know. 意味（いみ）means “meaning,” and どういう means “what kind of / what sort of.” This is more natural than just asking 何ですか（なんですか）when asking about word meaning.
Example: 「先生、『繰り返す』はどういう意味ですか。」(Teacher, what does “kurikaesu” mean?)
質問があります（しつもんがあります） — “I have a question”
A polite way to signal you want to ask something before speaking. In Japanese class culture, it is considered good form to say this before launching into your question, rather than just blurting it out.
Rei先生、質問があります。「なるほど」はどういう意味ですか。(Teacher, I have a question. What does “naruhodo” mean?)
Yukaいい質問ですね！「なるほど」は「I see」や「That makes sense」という意味ですよ。(Great question! “Naruhodo” means “I see” or “That makes sense.”)
Classroom Objects: The Vocabulary Around You
Knowing the names of the objects in your classroom helps you follow instructions accurately and ask for specific things. Here are the essential ones:
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| 教科書（きょうかしょ） | きょうかしょ | Textbook |
| ノート | ノート | Notebook |
| 黒板（こくばん） | こくばん | Blackboard / Chalkboard |
| ホワイトボード | ホワイトボード | Whiteboard |
| 鉛筆（えんぴつ） | えんぴつ | Pencil |
| 消しゴム（けしゴム） | けしゴム | Eraser |
| 先生（せんせい） | せんせい | Teacher |
| 生徒（せいと） | せいと | Student (school-age) |
| 学生（がくせい） | がくせい | Student (university / adult) |
A quick note on 生徒 vs 学生: 生徒（せいと）refers to students in elementary through high school, while 学生（がくせい）is used for university students or adult learners. If you’re taking a language class as an adult, 学生 is more appropriate for describing yourself, though many teachers will use it loosely for any student in their class.
You might also hear:
- プリント — printed handout / worksheet
- 辞書（じしょ）— dictionary
- 宿題（しゅくだい）— homework
- テスト — test / quiz
Asking for Clarification: Going Deeper
Sometimes わかりません is not specific enough. These two patterns let you ask precise questions about words and writing.
〜って何ですか（〜ってなんですか） — “What is ~?”
The って particle here is a casual quotation/topic marker, making this a natural, slightly informal way to ask about something. It is softer and more conversational than 〜とは何ですか, which sounds more academic. Use 〜って何ですか freely in class — it never sounds rude.
Example: 「先生、『消しゴム』って何ですか。」(Teacher, what is an “keshigomu”?)
〜の漢字を書いてもらえますか（〜のかんじをかいてもらえますか） — “Could you write the kanji for ~?”
This uses the pattern [verb て-form] + もらえますか, which is a polite way to make a request, softer than ください. It literally means “Could I receive (the action of you writing ~)?” — very natural and respectful. This is especially useful when you hear a word but are not sure how it is written.
Example: 「先生、『勉強』の漢字を書いてもらえますか。」(Teacher, could you write the kanji for “benkyou”?)
Expressing Understanding: Reacting Like a Natural
In Japanese conversation — classroom or otherwise — it is important to show you are listening and following along. These three expressions signal active understanding.
わかりました（わかりました） — “I understood / Got it”
The past tense of わかる. In Japanese, understanding is treated as a completed action — so the past tense signals “I have come to understand.” Use this any time you want to confirm you’ve grasped something. It sounds clean and polite in class.
なるほど — “I see / That makes sense”
An expression used when something clicks — when an explanation suddenly makes things clear. It is very natural in Japanese and has no direct single-word equivalent in English. A good translation is “Ah, I see!” or “That makes sense!” Be careful: in very formal situations, なるほど can sound a little casual if said to a superior. In classroom settings with a teacher, it is generally accepted.
あ、そうか（あ、そうか） — “Oh, I see / Oh right!”
Even more casual and spontaneous than なるほど. This is the sound of a lightbulb going on. It works well in pair-work or group activities in class where the register is relaxed. Avoid using it directly to a teacher in a formal setting — stick to なるほど or わかりました there.
Yuka「勉強する」の「勉」は「effort」、「強」は「strong」という意味です。だから「勉強」は「make a strong effort」という感じですね。(“Ben” in “benkyou suru” means “effort” and “kyou” means “strong.” So “benkyou” has the feeling of “making a strong effort.”)
Reiなるほど！あ、そうか、だから「勉強家」って「hardworking person」なんですね。(I see! Oh right, that’s why “benkyouka” means a “hardworking person.”)
Online Class Phrases: Japanese for the Virtual Classroom
With online Japanese lessons on platforms like italki, Cafetalk, or Zoom, a new set of phrases has entered everyday classroom Japanese. Knowing these will make your online sessions run smoothly.
ミュートを外してください（ミュートをはずしてください） — “Please unmute yourself”
外す（はずす）means “to remove / to undo.” ミュート is borrowed from English “mute.” You’ll hear this from teachers almost every online lesson, especially at the start. The opposite is ミュートにしてください (“please mute yourself”).
画面を共有してください（がめんをきょうゆうしてください） — “Please share your screen”
画面（がめん）= screen, 共有する（きょうゆうする）= to share. This is used when a teacher wants to see your work or when students need to share a document.
Other useful online phrases:
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| 音が聞こえますか | おとがきこえますか | Can you hear me? |
| 聞こえません | きこえません | I can’t hear you |
| 接続が悪いです | せつぞくがわるいです | My connection is bad |
| カメラをオンにしてください | カメラをオンにしてください | Please turn on your camera |
| チャットに書いてください | チャットにかいてください | Please write it in the chat |
Class Greetings: Opening and Closing Every Lesson
Japanese classes almost always open and close with set greeting rituals. These are not optional pleasantries — they are expected, and joining in will immediately earn you respect from your teacher.
よろしくお願いします（よろしくおねがいします） — Said at the start of class
This phrase has no perfect English translation. It expresses something like “I am in your care” or “Thank you in advance for working with me.” In a classroom context, both students and teacher say it together at the beginning of the lesson. It sets a tone of mutual respect and readiness to learn. You may also say it when introducing yourself to a new class.
お疲れ様でした（おつかれさまでした） — Said at the end of class
Literally “you were honorably tired” — this phrase acknowledges the effort everyone has put in. It is the standard closing of a Japanese class, a meeting, or a work shift. Both teacher and students say it to each other. Think of it as “Good work today, everyone!”
The full opening-closing ritual typically goes:
- Start of class: 起立（きりつ）— stand up / 礼（れい）— bow / 着席（ちゃくせき）— sit down / よろしくお願いします
- End of class: 起立 / 礼 / 着席 / お疲れ様でした
This ritual is especially common in Japanese school settings. Online or private lessons tend to skip the standing-and-bowing part, but よろしくお願いします and お疲れ様でした remain universal.
Common Mistakes: Politeness Levels When Talking to Your Teacher
One area where English-speaking learners consistently stumble is matching the right level of politeness when speaking to a teacher. Here are the most common errors and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Using casual forms with the teacher
In English, saying “I don’t get it” to a teacher is perfectly fine. In Japanese, the casual equivalent わからない sounds too abrupt. Always use the polite form: わかりません.
| Context | Wrong (too casual) | Correct (polite) |
|---|---|---|
| I don’t understand | わからない | わかりません |
| Say it again | もう一回言って | もう一度言ってください |
| What does it mean? | どういう意味？ | どういう意味ですか |
| I have a question | 質問ある | 質問があります |
Mistake 2: Calling the teacher by name + さん
In English, students often call a teacher “Mr. Smith” or “Ms. Tanaka.” In Japanese, you address the teacher directly as 先生（せんせい）— never as 田中さん（たなかさん）. Using さん with a teacher’s name sounds disrespectful, as it treats them as an equal rather than acknowledging their role. Say 先生 or 田中先生（たなかせんせい）.
Mistake 3: Confusing わかりました and わかります
New learners sometimes say わかります (present tense) to mean “I understand.” While not grammatically wrong, it sounds odd in this context. Japanese treats understanding as something that happens at a point in time — わかりました (past tense: “I have understood”) is the natural and expected response when confirming comprehension.
Quick Quiz
Test yourself! Choose the correct phrase for each situation.
1. Your teacher says something too fast. What do you say?
a) わかりません b) もう一度言ってください c) 質問があります
✔ Answer: b) もう一度言ってください — “Please say it one more time.”
2. The lesson is starting. What does everyone say together?
a) お疲れ様でした b) なるほど c) よろしくお願いします
✔ Answer: c) よろしくお願いします — the standard opening greeting in Japanese class.
3. You hear a new word: “消しゴム.” You want to ask what it means. What do you say?
a) 消しゴムって何ですか b) 消しゴムはわかりません c) 消しゴムをください
✔ Answer: a) 消しゴムって何ですか — “What is an eraser?”
4. Your teacher is on Zoom and you can’t hear them. What do you type in the chat?
a) 画面を共有してください b) 聞こえません c) ミュートを外してください
✔ Answer: b) 聞こえません — “I can’t hear you.”
5. Class has just ended. What do you say to your teacher?
a) よろしくお願いします b) お疲れ様でした c) 繰り返してください
✔ Answer: b) お疲れ様でした — “Good work today!”
6. Your teacher wants students to open their textbook. What command do they give?
a) 静かにしてください b) 見てください c) 開いてください
✔ Answer: c) 開いてください — “Please open (it).”
How did you do? If you got 5 or 6 right, you’re ready to navigate a real Japanese classroom. If you missed a few, re-read the sections above and try again — that’s what 繰り返してください is for!
Have a classroom phrase that confused you, or a funny story from your Japanese class? Share it in the comments below — we’d love to hear about your classroom experiences!
Keep Learning
- Keigo: Sonkeigo vs Kenjougo vs Teineigo — Master Japanese Honorific Speech
- Japanese Imperative Form — How to Give Commands and Instructions
- Expressing Emotions in Japanese — Words and Phrases for Every Feeling
About the Author
Daisuke is the creator of JP YoKoSo — a Japanese learning site for English speakers. Every article is written to explain Japanese clearly, with real examples, grammar notes, and practical tips for learners at every level.
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