How to say "school" in Japanese

• 学校がっこうJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe ordinary, general word for a school as an institution — its buildings, students, and staff, or schooling in general. This is the word you want in most contexts.
  この学校がっこうはたくさんの生徒せいとがいます。↗

  This school has many students.
• スクールJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe katakana loanword; it overlaps with 学校 but has a stylish, Western feel, appearing in set phrases and in the names of schools offering lessons in sports, dance, and the like.
  人物画じんぶつがを描えがけるスクールを探さがしています。↗

  I'm looking for a school where I can paint portraits.
• 流派りゅうはCommon
  nounA 'school' in the artistic sense: a tradition or style of an art such as painting or ikebana, with its own lineage and techniques. It does not mean a school as an institution.
  その作品さくひんは小説しょうせつの新しん流派りゅうはを生うむだろう。↗

  The work will give birth to a new school of novel.
• 学園がくえんCommon
  nounAn educational institution or academy, often appearing in school names; it can also mean a campus. The nuance is somewhat more formal or stately than 学校.
  「学園がくえんの廊下ろうかで、濃厚のうこうなキスシーン・・・聞きいたぞ聞きいたぞ」「濃厚のうこうじゃなーい！話はなしに尾おひれ付ついてるって・・・」↗

  "A passionate kiss scene in a school corridor ... I've heard all about it!" "It wasn't passionate! That's an exaggeration..."
• 学部がくぶJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA faculty or division of a university — the 'school' or 'college' within a university, grouping related subjects. It is not used for a school as a whole institution.
  学部がくぶの選択せんたくで迷まよった。↗

  He was at a loss as to which faculty to choose.

For a school as an institution use 学校 (or the Western-flavored loanword 「スクール」); use 流派 for schools of art, 学園 for academies and campuses, and 学部 for a university faculty or department.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 学校がっこうschool
• スクールschool
• 流派りゅうはschool (of painting, ikebana, etc.)
• 学園がくえんeducational institution
• 学部がくぶfaculty (of a university)
• 学舎がくしゃschool (building)
• 学派がくはschool (of thought)
• 群ぐんgroup
• 群れむれgroup
• 分科ぶんかdepartment
• 校こうschool
• 学び舎まなびやschool
• エコールschool
• スコラschool
• 学群がくぐんschool (within a university)
• 学窓がくそうschool
• 貴校きこう(your) school
• 御校おんこう(your) school
• 指南所しなんじょschool
• 教習所きょうしゅうじょtraining institute
• 学びの庭まなびのにわeducational institution
• 学びの園まなびのそのeducational institution
• 学問所がくもんじょplace of study
• 派はschool (of thought, painting, etc.)
• 流りゅうschool (e.g. of flower arrangement)
• 門もんbranch of learning based on the teachings of a single master
• 一流いちりゅうschool (e.g. of flower arrangement)
• 宗派しゅうはschool (e.g. of poetry)
• 一家いっか(one's own) style
• 流儀りゅうぎschool (of ikebana, tea ceremony, etc.)
• 国学こくがくschool (of a provincial capital during the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties)
• 一門いちもんsect
• 系統けいとうgroup (e.g. of colors) (colours)
• 流れながれdescent
• 筋すじschool (e.g. of scholarship or arts)
• 教室きょうしつschool (for a particular discipline)