新入生

しんにゅうせい

new student, first-year student, freshman

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"新入生" (しんにゅうせい) specifically refers to students who have just entered a school, university, or other educational institution. It is commonly used to describe freshmen or first-year students, especially in formal or academic contexts.

Common Contexts

You will often hear "新入生" in announcements about orientation, welcome events, or administrative procedures aimed at newcomers. It implies a fresh start and the beginning of a student's academic journey.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 新入生歓迎会 (しんにゅうせい かんげいかい): welcome party for new students
  • 新入生オリエンテーション: orientation for freshmen
  • 新入生募集: recruitment or admission of new students

Register and Nuance

The term is neutral and formal, suitable for official documents, announcements, and polite conversation. It is not used for casual references to classmates but rather to emphasize the status of being newly admitted.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "新入生" with "新学生" or simply "学生". Remember, "新入生" highlights the newness of the student’s enrollment, so it is best used when referring to the first year or the initial admission period.

Example Sentences

しんにゅうせい かんげいかい は らいしゅう の きんようび に おこなわれます。

The welcome party for new students will be held next Friday.

だいがく の しんにゅうせい は オリエンテーション に さんか しなければ なりません。

University freshmen must participate in the orientation.

しんにゅうせい の ため の きょうかしょ は がくぶ の じむしつ で はいふ されます。

Textbooks for new students are distributed at the faculty office.