共学

きょうがく

coeducation

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

What is 共学?

共学 (きょうがく) means coeducation, referring to schools where male and female students study together. It contrasts with single-sex schools, such as 男子校 (boys' schools) or 女子校 (girls' schools).

Usage and Context

This term is often used when discussing educational environments, school types, or social interactions between genders in school settings. It is a neutral term and commonly used in formal and informal contexts.

Common Collocations

  • 共学の学校 (きょうがくのがっこう): coeducational school
  • 共学になる: to become coeducational
  • 共学のメリット: advantages of coeducation

Important Notes

When using 共学, it implies the presence of both genders studying together, often highlighting social or educational benefits. Learners sometimes confuse 共学 with 男女同士 (だんじょどうし), which means "between men and women" but is not about schooling. Remember, 共学 specifically refers to the school environment.

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共学 is a standard term used in both spoken and written Japanese, suitable for academic discussions, news, and everyday conversation about schools.

Example Sentences

このがっこうはきょうがくなので、だんしもじょしもおなじきょうしつでべんきょうします。

This school is coeducational, so both boys and girls study in the same classroom.

きょうがくのメリットは、いせいとしぜんにこうりゅうできることです。

The advantage of coeducation is that you can naturally interact with the opposite sex.

むかしはだんしこうやじょしこうがおおかったが、いまはきょうがくがいっぱんてきになっている。

In the past, there were many boys' and girls' schools, but now coeducation has become common.