How to say "university" in Japanese

• 大学だいがくJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe common word for a university or college, meaning the institution itself. This is the word you want in nearly every context, from casual conversation to writing, when you simply mean a university.
  あなたは理科系りかけいの大学だいがくに進すすんだほうがいいよ。↗

  You should go on to a technical college.
• ユニバーシティー
  nounA loanword taken directly from English 'university'. Because it is less common, it is seldom the word you want in ordinary sentences; for simply referring to a university, 大学 is the usual choice.
• 新制大学しんせいだいがく
  nounA term for universities operated under the post-war guidelines, used chiefly in discussions of Japan's post-war educational reform, as opposed to institutions under the earlier system. It is not the ordinary word for 'university'.

For the everyday sense of 'university', use 大学; 「ユニバーシティー」 is a less common loanword for the same idea; 新制大学 is a narrower term for universities run under the post-war guidelines.

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

• 大学だいがくuniversity
• ユニバーシティーuniversity
• 新制大学しんせいだいがくuniversity (operated under post-war guidelines)
• 総合大学そうごうだいがく(multi-faculty) university
• 大だいuniversity