大学

だいがく

college

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"大学" (dàxué) refers to a university or college, a higher education institution where students pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies. It is a common noun used in everyday conversation and formal contexts.

Common Contexts

You will often hear "大学" when talking about education plans, student life, or academic majors. For example, "大学" means "to attend university," and "大学生" refers to "university life."

Collocations and Patterns

  • 大学生: university life, emphasizing the experience and freedom compared to earlier schooling.
  • 大学: to go to university, used when discussing enrollment or attendance.
  • 大学专业: university major, specifying the field of study.

Usage Notes

"大学" is a straightforward term without significant formality differences. However, it is distinct from "学院" (college or institute) which may refer to smaller or specialized schools. Avoid confusing "大学" with "高中" (high school), as they represent different education levels.

Example Sentences

I plan to study at Peking University next year.

University life is much freer than high school.

He is majoring in computer science at university.