1.
teacher's platform; podium; rostrum
The raised platform at the front of a classroom where the teacher stands.
先生が教壇に立った。
The teacher stood at the podium.
教壇の上から生徒たちを見わたした。
I looked out over the students from the platform.
古い教室には木製の教壇がまだ残っている。
Old classrooms still have wooden teacher's platforms.
2.
teaching profession; teaching career
Figuratively refers to the profession of teaching. Used in expressions like "standing at the podium" meaning to teach.
教壇に立って三十年になる。
It has been thirty years since I started teaching.
定年を迎えて教壇を去った。
He retired and left the teaching profession.
大学卒業後すぐに教壇に立ち、今も教え続けている。
I started teaching right after graduating from university and continue to teach to this day.
USAGE:
The literal meaning (sense 1) refers to the raised platform in a classroom. Many modern Japanese schools have removed these platforms, but the word persists in its figurative meaning.
The expression 教壇に立つ (to stand at the podium) is the most common usage and means "to teach" or "to be a teacher."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 教壇に立つ (to teach, to be a teacher)
- 教壇を去る (to leave the teaching profession)
- 教壇に立って〜年 (to have been teaching for ~ years)