赤点

• Reading: あかてん
• Romaji: akaten
• Kanji breakdown: 赤 (red) + 点 (mark/point) → red mark, failing score
• Pronunciation: /a.ka.teɴ/

Meaning

A failing grade on a test, traditionally marked in red ink; the minimum passing threshold that a student falls below.

赤点 literally means 'red mark,' referring to the old practice of writing failing scores in red ink. In most Japanese high schools, the cutoff varies (commonly 30 or 40 out of 100), and getting a 赤点 can lead to supplementary exams (追試), extra assignments, or in serious cases, 留年. University students also use the term loosely for any disastrously low grade.

Examples

1. 数学で赤点取ったら追試受けないといけないんだよ。 If I get a failing mark in math, I have to take a make-up exam.
2. 赤点ギリギリでセーフだったけど、めっちゃ焦った。 I barely scraped by above the failing line, but I was seriously freaking out.
3. 赤点3つ以上で留年って聞いて、やっと焦り始めた。 When I heard that three or more failing marks means being held back, I finally started to panic.

Usage Guide

Context: school, friends, family

Tone: worried, self-deprecating

Do Say

• 赤点取らないように最低限の勉強はしようよ。 (At least study enough to avoid a failing grade.)
• 赤点だったけど追試で何とかなった。 (I failed but managed to get by with the make-up exam.)

Don't Say

• 人の赤点を大声で言いふらすのはNG (Loudly announcing someone else's failing grade is not okay)

Common Mistakes

• Assuming 赤点 thresholds are the same everywhere — the cutoff varies by school (30, 40, or even higher at some schools)

Origin & History

From 赤 (red) + 点 (mark/score). Originates from the practice of writing failing grades in red ink on report cards and test papers, a convention dating back to the early Japanese modern school system.

Cultural Context

Era: Long-standing school tradition, always current

Generation: All ages who attended Japanese schools

Social background: Universal among students

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. The specific cutoff point for 赤点 varies by school and region.