欠席

• Reading: けっせき
• Romaji: kesseki
• Kanji breakdown: 欠 (ketsu) — lack, absence, gap; 席 (seki) — seat, place, occasion
• Pronunciation: /kes.se.ki/

Meaning

Absence; non-attendance. Being absent from a class, meeting, or event.

Functions as a noun or する verb (欠席する). The opposite of 出席 (attendance). In Japanese schools, excessive 欠席 can affect grades and university recommendations. Students are expected to formally notify the school when absent, often through a parent's phone call.

Examples

1. 風邪で学校を欠席した。 I was absent from school because of a cold.
2. 欠席する場合は、事前に連絡してください。 If you're going to be absent, please notify us in advance.
3. 今学期は一度も欠席していません。 I haven't been absent once this semester.

Usage Guide

Context: school, work, formal notification

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 欠 (ketsu, lack/absence) and 席 (seki, seat/place). Literally means lacking from one's seat — the seat is empty because the person is not there.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal