Translation guide
The English verb 'enroll' covers joining a school, course, program, or membership. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what you are joining. This guide organizes the most common situations for English-speaking learners.
Expressing that someone becomes a student at a school, college, or university.
The standard verb for entering a school or university. Literally 'enter learning'. Used for formal enrollment at the start of a program.
I will enroll at the University of Tokyo next year.
Refers specifically to completing the enrollment procedures or paperwork after being accepted.
Expressing that someone registers for a specific class, workshop, or series of lessons.
Expressing that someone becomes a member of a gym, library, subscription service, etc.
Specifically for joining a club, gym, or membership-based organization. Literally 'enter association'.
Expressing that you register another person, such as a child, in a school or activity.
Causative form of 入学する, meaning 'to make someone enter school'. Used by parents or guardians.
入学する is only for entering a school or formal educational institution. Using it for a gym or online course sounds unnatural. Use 入会する or 申し込む instead.
申し込む emphasizes the act of applying or signing up, often with a selection process or limited spots. 登録する is more about registering your information into a system, often for ongoing access. For a one-time workshop, 申し込む is better; for a website membership, 登録する is more natural.
Since I passed, I completed the enrollment procedures.
General verb for applying or signing up. Used for courses, seminars, and events. Often used with に.
I enrolled in an English conversation class.
Means 'register'. Common for online courses, membership sites, or formal registration systems.
I enrolled in an online course.
I enrolled in a sports gym.
Also used for memberships, especially when involving an account or database registration.
I enrolled as a library user.
I enrolled my daughter in an international school.
Causative of 申し込む, used when signing someone up for a course or activity.
I enrolled my son in a summer camp.