大学・大學|だいがくdaigaku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Which spelling to use
大学大学 is the most common form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when writing the word.
大學大學 is less common than 大学 and uses outdated kanji, so beginners should not choose it as their default written form.
Definitions
  1. noununiversity; college
    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.
    The majority of the successful candidates were university graduates.
  2. nounformer imperial university of Japan (established under the ritsuryō system for the training of government administrators)
  3. nounthe Great Learning (one of the Four Books)
Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymユニバーシティーNeutralThe long-vowel spelling of the loanword, seen mostly in names and advertising; everyday speech uses 「大学」.
  • Synonym最高学府さいこうがくふWrittenThe highest seat of learning; carries a solemn, laudatory tone and appears mostly in speeches and formal writing.
  • SynonymユニバーシティNeutralLoanword mostly seen in school names and advertising; in everyday speech people just say 「大学」.
  • SynonymユニヴァーシティNeutralAn alternative spelling of 「ユニバーシティ」, found mainly in school names and trademarks; not used in everyday speech.
  • Related大学校だいがっこうNeutralA training school attached to a government agency, e.g. 「防衛大学校」; not a university in the strict sense.

Default to 「大学」. The katakana variants turn up mainly in school names and publicity, not everyday talk. Use 「最高学府」 for a solemn, praising tone in speeches or writing; 「大学校」 is a government-affiliated training school, not a true university.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 学問がくもんの研究けんきゅうと教授きょうじゅにあたる高等こうとう教育機関きょういくきかん。
  2. 中国ちゅうごくにおける儒教じゅきょうの経典きょうてんの一ひとつ。著者ちょしゃ・成立せいりつ年ねん未詳みしょう。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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