Meaning and Usage
"教授" (きょうじゅ) primarily means "professor" or "teaching/instruction" in a university or academic context. It refers both to the position of a university professor and the act of teaching or instructing.
Common Contexts
This word is often used to talk about university faculty members, their roles, and their teaching activities. It can also appear in formal or academic settings when discussing instruction or guidance.
Collocations and Patterns
- 教授をする: to work as a professor
- 教授からの指導: guidance from a professor
- 教授の説明: explanation by a professor
These collocations highlight the formal and academic tone of the word.
Register and Nuance
"教授" is a formal term used mainly in academic or professional contexts. It is not used for general teaching at schools or informal instruction.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "教授" with "教える" (to teach). Remember, "教授" is a noun referring to the professor or the act of instruction, not the verb "to teach" itself.