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学生
gakusei
student
彼女は大学の学生です。
She is a university student.
formal
A person who is studying at a school, college, or university.
学生たちは図書館で勉強しています。
The students are studying in the library.
彼は学生時代にプログラミングを学びました。
He learned programming during his student days.
Used broadly for learners at any educational level, from elementary school to university.
Pro Tip
Distinguish '学生' and '生徒'
'学生' is broader and includes university students, while '生徒' usually refers to primary or secondary school students. For example, '大学生' (daigakusei) is a university student, and '中学生' (chūgakusei) is a junior high school student.
Gold Rule
Formality in context
When referring to oneself as a student in formal settings (e.g., introductions or official documents), '学生' is appropriate. In casual speech, '学生' is still widely used but may be shortened to '学' (gaku) in some contexts (e.g., '学の先輩' for a senior student).
Word Origin
From 中古漢語 '學生' (xuéshēng), combining '學' (study) and '生' (person/life). The kanji compound entered Japanese as '学生' with the same meaning.
Usage Notes
The term is neutral and widely used in both academic and casual contexts. In Japanese, '学生' typically refers to someone enrolled in a school or university, while '生徒' often implies a younger student (e.g., in junior high or high school).
Word Breakdown
学
study, learning
root生
person, life
root和英辞典