教壇(きょうだん)

きょうだん
noun
teacher's platform; podium; teaching profession
educationbuilding
1. teacher's platform; podium; rostrum
The raised platform at the front of a classroom where the teacher stands.
先生(せんせい)が教壇(きょうだん)に立(た)った。
The teacher stood at the podium.
教壇(きょうだん)の上(うえ)から生徒(せいと)たちを見(み)わたした。
I looked out over the students from the platform.
古(ふる)い教室(きょうしつ)には木製(もくせい)の教壇(きょうだん)がまだ残(のこ)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(きょうだん)に立(た)って三十(さんじゅう)年(ねん)になる。
It has been thirty years since I started teaching.
定年(ていねん)を迎(むか)えて教壇(きょうだん)を去(さ)った。
He retired and left the teaching profession.
大学(だいがく)卒業後(そつぎょうご)すぐに教壇(きょうだん)に立(た)ち、今(いま)も教(おし)え続(つづ)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(きょうだん)に立(た)つ (to stand at the podium) is the most common usage and means "to teach" or "to be a teacher."

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 講壇(こうだん) (lectern)
general
Added 2026.3.16 14:43 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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