Meaning and Usage
"学校" (がっこう) means "school" and refers to an educational institution where students learn. It is a very common noun used in everyday conversation, especially when talking about going to school, school life, or teachers.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "学校" when discussing daily routines, such as "学校に行く" (go to school) or "学校で勉強する" (study at school). It can also be used to talk about the people related to school, like "学校の先生" (school teacher).
Collocations and Patterns
- 学校に行く: to go to school, used when describing the action of attending school.
- 学校で: at school, used to indicate location where an action happens.
- 学校の先生: school teacher, to specify a teacher belonging to a school.
Register and Politeness
"学校" is a neutral noun and can be used in both casual and formal contexts without change.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "学校" with "学園" (がくえん), which can mean a campus or a private school complex. "学校" is the general term for any school, so use it when referring to elementary, middle, or high schools in general conversation.