Japanese with Manga

Forgotten homework with 宿題

Kanji Explanation: Topics and assigned problems with 題

Manga panel from あずまんが大王 showing example of Forgotten homework with 宿題.
あずまんが大王 » Volume 1年生 » Page 9

Tomo stands from her desk and raises her hand.

とも:
「先生(せんせい)　宿題(しゅくだい)忘(わす)れました！だから廊下(ろうか)に立(た)ちます！」
“Teacher, I forgot my homework! So I'll stand in the hall!”
Literal: “Teacher, I forgot the homework! Therefore I'll stand in the hallway!”

Key Points

1宿題(しゅくだい) = “homework”
  • Here, 宿題(しゅくだい) is the work the teacher assigned for students to complete outside class.
  • In this compound, 題(だい) contributes “topic”. 宿(しゅく) suggests something that remains, fitting a task carried away to finish later.
2Casual particle omission: 宿題(しゅくだい)(を)忘(わす)れました
  • The object marker を is left out. The full form is 宿題(しゅくだい)を忘(わす)れました, “I forgot my homework.”
  • Japanese does not need a word for “my” here. The situation makes it clear whose homework Tomo forgot.
3だから introduces Tomo’s conclusion
  • At the start of the second sentence, だから means “so” or “therefore”. It presents standing in the hall as the consequence of forgetting her homework.
4廊下(ろうか)に立(た)ちます = “I’ll stand in the hall”
  • With 立(た)つ, に marks the place where someone takes up a standing position.

Vocabulary

(Teacher)

先生(せんせい) is a respectful title for teachers and certain professionals, including doctors, lawyers, and politicians. Speakers do not normally use it for themselves.

(Hallway)

廊下(ろうか) means a corridor or hallway connecting rooms in a building.

See Also

あずまんが大王 © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.