宿題(しゅくだい)

しゅくだい
noun
homework
1. homework, assignment
Work assigned by a teacher to be done outside of class. A fundamental part of Japanese education.
宿題(しゅくだい)はもう終(お)わりましたか。
Have you finished your homework already?
宿題(しゅくだい)を忘(わす)れてしまいました。
I forgot my homework.
毎日(まいにち)宿題(しゅくだい)がたくさんあります。
There's a lot of homework every day.
先生(せんせい)は夏休(なつやす)みの宿題(しゅくだい)を出(だ)しました。
The teacher assigned summer vacation homework.
宿題(しゅくだい)が終(お)わったら、友達(ともだち)と遊(あそ)んでもいいです。
Once you finish your homework, you may play with your friends.
宿題(しゅくだい)をやらなかったので、先生(せんせい)に怒(おこ)られた。
I was scolded by the teacher because I didn't do my homework.
2. unfinished task, pending issue
Can also refer to something left undone that needs to be addressed, like 'homework' from a meeting or project.
それは今後(こんご)の宿題(しゅくだい)ですね。
That's something to work on going forward.
Figurative use
この問題(もんだい)は私(わたし)たちの宿題(しゅくだい)です。来週(らいしゅう)までに答(こた)えを出(だ)しましょう。
This issue is something we need to address. Let's come up with an answer by next week.
その件(けん)は宿題(しゅくだい)として持(も)ち帰(かえ)ります。
I'll take that matter back as something to work on.
会議(かいぎ)の宿題(しゅくだい)がまだ残(のこ)っている。
There are still pending tasks from the meeting.
前回(ぜんかい)の宿題(しゅくだい)は終(お)わりましたか。今日(きょう)の会議(かいぎ)で話(はな)しましょう。
Have you finished last time's action items? Let's discuss them in today's meeting.

宿題(しゅくだい) means homework assigned by teachers, but also extends to mean any unfinished task or pending issue.

ETYMOLOGY:
宿(しゅく) (lodging/home) + 題(だい) (topic/problem) = work to do at home

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 宿題(しゅくだい)をする: to do homework
  • 宿題(しゅくだい)を出(だ)す: to assign homework
  • 宿題(しゅくだい)を忘(わす)れる: to forget homework
  • 夏休(なつやす)みの宿題(しゅくだい): summer vacation homework

FIGURATIVE USE:
In business contexts, 宿題(しゅくだい) often refers to action items or tasks to complete before the next meeting: それは次回(じかい)までの宿題(しゅくだい)です (That's homework for next time).

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japanese schools assign homework during all vacation periods, including summer. 宿題(しゅくだい)が終(お)わらない (homework isn't finished) is a common student complaint.

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Added 2026.1.7 21:26 · Revised 2026.2.19 10:02
00500/00812_shukudai