Japanese word

放課後

Pronunciation

Romajihōkago

Meaning

  • nounafter school

Example

放課後に友だちと遊びます。hō ka go ni tomo da chi to aso bi ma su

I play with my friends after school.

Illustration for 放課後 (after school)

More examples

放課後は図書館で宿題をします。hō ka go wa to sho kan de shuku dai o shi ma su

I do my homework in the library after school.

Core concept

Refers to the part of the day that follows regular school classes and is available for activities outside the lessons.

Common phrases

  • 放課後に遊ぶhō ka go ni aso bu

    play after school

  • 放課後の活動hō ka go no katsu dō

    after-school activity

  • 放課後を過ごすhō ka go o su go su

    spend time after school

Similar words

授業後jugyōgo: The time after a class or classes have ended.
下校後gekōgo: The time after a student leaves school for the day.

Definition in Japanese

その日の学校での授業を終えてからの時間。so no hi no gak kō de no ju gyō o o e te ka ra no ji kan

Word origin

The compound joins 放課 (hōka, "classes ending") with 後 (go, "after"), giving 放課後 (hōkago) the sense of after classes.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often recognize after-school in phrases such as after-school club, which helps connect 放課後 (hōkago) with organized activities after regular lessons.

Opposites

  • 登校前tōkōmaebefore schoolnoun

Word lists with this word