Japanese word

退学

Pronunciation

Romajitaigaku

Meaning

  • noundropping out

Example

私は退学を決めました。watashi wa tai gaku o ki me ma shi ta

I decided to drop out.

Illustration for 退学 (dropping out)

More examples

進路を見直すため、退学について先生に相談しました。shin ro o mi nao su ta me tai gaku ni tsu i te sen sei ni sō dan shi ma shi ta

I talked to my teacher about withdrawing from school so I could reconsider my future plans.

Core concept

Marks a break from formal schooling before graduation, with the cause ranging from a student's choice to an institution's action.

Common phrases

  • 大学を退学するdai gaku o tai gaku su ru

    drop out of university

  • 退学を決めるtai gaku o ki me ru

    decide to drop out

  • 退学を申し出るtai gaku o mō shi de ru

    request withdrawal from school

Similar words

中退chūtai: Ending one's studies before graduation, usually referring to a student's own departure.
休学kyūgaku: A temporary period away from school during which enrollment remains active.

Definition in Japanese

卒業に至らないまま学校との在籍関係を終えること。sotsu gyō ni ita ra na i ma ma gak kō to no zai seki kan kei o o e ru ko to

Word origin

退学 (taigaku) joins 退 (tai, "withdraw") with 学 (gaku, "learning"), forming a term for withdrawing from school before one's studies are complete.

Usage tips

  • 退学 (taigaku) is common in official school language, whereas English drop out is also used in everyday speech, making the Japanese term sound more formal in ordinary conversation.

Other meanings

  • expulsionnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 退学者taigakushadropoutnoun
  • 退学率taigakuritsudropout ratenoun

Word lists with this word