How to say "student" in Japanese

• 学生がくせいJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe standard word for a student, especially one at a university; when you simply mean 'a student' in general, this is the usual choice.
  学生がくせいの半数はんすうが休やすんでいた。↗

  Half the students were absent.
• 生徒せいとJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounA pupil or schoolchild; use it for school pupils below university level — a junior high or high school student, for instance.
  あなたは何なんと賢かしこい生徒せいとなのでしょう。↗

  What a clever student you are!
• 書生しょせいCommon
  nounA dated word for a student, classically one who boarded in a private home while studying; it belongs to older literature and is rarely the word you need.
• 学徒がくとCommon
  nounCovers students and pupils, often thought of collectively, and can also mean a follower of a teacher or school of thought; the tone is formal and literary.
• 学究がっきゅうCommon
  nounPoints to a scholar — a person devoted to learning; its 'student' sense is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want for a school or university student.

For an ordinary student use 学生 (especially at university) or 生徒 (school pupils); 書生 is dated, 学徒 is a formal collective term, and 学究 really means 'scholar' rather than a student.

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

• 学生がくせいstudent (esp. a university student)
• 生徒せいとpupil
• 書生しょせいstudent
• 学徒がくとstudent
• 学究がっきゅうscholar
• 研究家けんきゅうかresearcher
• スチューデントstudent
• 練習生れんしゅうせいstudent
• 被教育者ひきょういくしゃstudent
• 門人もんじんpupil
• 学習者がくしゅうしゃlearner
• 教習生きょうしゅうせいtrainee
• 学問の徒がくもんのとscholar
• 受講者じゅこうしゃperson attending a lecture
• 門生もんせいpupil
• 生せいstudent