教科書

• Reading: きょうかしょ
• Romaji: kyoukasho
• Kanji breakdown: 教 (kyou) — teach; 科 (ka) — subject; 書 (sho) — book
• Pronunciation: /kʲoː.ka.ɕo/

Meaning

Textbook. A book used as a standard work for the study of a school subject.

A noun referring to officially approved textbooks used in schools. Japan has a rigorous textbook approval system (教科書検定) overseen by the Ministry of Education. Also used figuratively to mean 'a model example' (教科書通り — by the book, textbook-perfect). Different from 参考書 (reference book) which supplements textbooks.

Examples

1. 新学期の教科書を買いに行った。 I went to buy textbooks for the new semester.
2. 教科書に載っている例文を読んだ。 I read the example sentences in the textbook.
3. 彼のプレゼンは教科書通りだった。 His presentation was textbook-perfect.

Usage Guide

Context: school, education, study

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 教 (teach), 科 (subject, branch), and 書 (book, writing). Together they describe a book for teaching subjects — literally a 'teaching-subject-book.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Students and educators

Social background: Universal