学年(がくねん)

がくねん
noun
school year, grade level
1. grade level, year in school
The level or year a student is in at school (e.g., first grade, second year).
息子(むすこ)は小学校(しょうがっこう)3学年(がくねん)です。
My son is in the third grade of elementary school.
学年(がくねん)が上(あ)がると勉強(べんきょう)が難(むずか)しくなる。
Studying gets harder as you advance in grade level.
同(おな)じ学年(がくねん)の友達(ともだち)と遊(あそ)んでいる。
I'm playing with friends from the same grade.
2. academic year, school year
The annual period of schooling, typically from April to March in Japan.
日本(にほん)の学年(がくねん)は4月(がつ)に始(はじ)まる。
The school year in Japan starts in April.
学年(がくねん)末(まつ)の試験(しけん)が近(ちか)づいてきた。
Year-end exams are approaching.
新(しん)学年(がくねん)が始(はじ)まって、クラス替(が)えがあった。
The new school year started and classes were reshuffled.

学年(がくねん) refers to both the grade level and the school year itself.

School grades in Japan:

  • 小学(しょうがく)1〜6年(ねん) (Elementary 1-6)
  • 中学(ちゅうがく)1〜3年(ねん) (Junior High 1-3)
  • 高校(こうこう)1〜3年(ねん) (High School 1-3)

Common expressions:

  • 学年(がくねん)が上(あ)がる (to advance a grade)
  • 同(おな)じ学年(がくねん) (same grade level)
  • 上(うえ)/下(した)の学年(がくねん) (upper/lower grade)
  • 学年(がくねん)末(まつ) (end of school year)

Note: The Japanese school year starts in April and ends in March.

general
Added 2026.1.13 21:17 · Revised 2026.2.19 23:46
00000/00056_gakunen