欠席(けっせき)

欠席(けっせき) means absence from a place where one is expected (class, meeting, event). Functions as both a noun and a する verb.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

• 欠席(けっせき)する: to be absent
• 欠席(けっせき)届(とどけ): absence notice
• 欠席(けっせき)者(しゃ): absentee
• 欠席(けっせき)理由(りゆう): reason for absence
• 無断(むだん)欠席(けっせき): unexcused absence
• 欠席(けっせき)日数(にっすう): number of days absent

CONTRAST:

• 欠席(けっせき): absence (from class, meeting)
• 出席(しゅっせき): attendance, presence (antonym)
• 欠勤(けっきん): absence from work (employment context)
• 休(やす)む: to be absent, to take a day off (more casual)

NOTE:
欠席(けっせき) is formal and used primarily in school and meeting contexts. In casual speech, 休(やす)む is more natural: 学校(がっこう)を休(やす)む (to miss school).