Japanese · Work & Business
課題
kadai
Task / Assignment / Challenge
Definition
A piece of work to be done, or a problem to be solved. Used in both educational contexts (homework assignment) and professional contexts (business challenge).
Example
今週の課題を今夜中に終わらせます。
I will finish this week's assignment tonight.
Etymology
'課題' (kadai) is composed of the characters for 'subject' or 'topic' (課) and 'issue' or 'problem' (題). Historically, it has been used in educational contexts to denote assignments or challenges that require critical thinking.
How & Where It’s Used
'課題' is used in both formal and informal settings, primarily in educational and workplace discussions. Written communication frequently employs the term, and it is understood throughout Japan with slight variations in meaning depending on context.