教科書(きょうかしょ)

教科書(きょうかしょ) means textbook - a book used for studying a particular subject in school.

Writing

• 教(きょう): teaching, instruction
• 科(か): subject, department
• 書(しょ): book, writing
• 教科(きょうか) means 'school subject' or 'curriculum'

Japanese education system

In Japan, textbooks (教科書(きょうかしょ)) for public schools are:

• Screened and approved by the Ministry of Education (文部科学省(もんぶかがくしょう))
• Selected by local education boards
• Provided free of charge during compulsory education (elementary and junior high school)
• Purchased by students in high school and university

Common expressions

• 教科書(きょうかしょ)を開(ひら)く: to open a textbook
• 教科書(きょうかしょ)を読(よ)む: to read a textbook
• 教科書(きょうかしょ)を忘(わす)れる: to forget one's textbook
• 教科書(きょうかしょ)通(どお)り: by the book, textbook-style

Related words

• 参考書(さんこうしょ): reference book, study guide
• 問題集(もんだいしゅう): workbook, problem set
• 辞書(じしょ): dictionary
• ノート: notebook
• 副読本(ふくどくほん): supplementary reader

Usage

教科書(きょうかしょ)通(どお)り (textbook-style) can have a slightly negative connotation, implying something is conventional or lacks originality.