The Meaning of kyuugaku [休学] In Japanese

休学
きゅうがく
Romaji: kyuugaku N4

What does 休学 mean?

Translation and Meaning

leave of absence from school, temporary pause in studies

Definition

休学 means taking a temporary break from formal schooling, during which a student suspends attendance and coursework with the intent to resume later.

Type

Noun (suru-verb)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Temporary interruption of enrollment, with plan to return.
  • Typically formalized by a school notice and duration that may be renewed.
  • Not the same as withdrawal (退学), which ends enrollment permanently.

Composition

  • 休: rest, pause — indicates taking a break
  • 学: study, learning — indicates educational activity
  • Combined, the concept is pausing one’s studies for a period with the intention to resume

Usage

Primarily used in educational contexts to describe a deliberate pause in studies; it’s formal, used with the verb 休学する to form 休学する, and often accompanied by a defined period or 休学届; appropriate for official documents and academic planning.
💡 Tips

Mnemonic: the kanji 休 shows a person resting beside a tree, symbolizing a break; connect rest (休) with learning (学) to remember that 休学 means pausing studies.

Variations

  • 退学 — taigaku, withdrawal from school
  • 中退 — chūtai, dropping out before completion

Example Phrases

  • 来学期、 大学を 休学 する ことに 決めた。
    raigakki, daigaku o kyuugaku suru koto ni kimeta.
    I’ve decided to take a leave of absence from university starting next semester.
    Lista:
    • 来学期 (raigakki) – next semester
    • 大学を (daigaku o) – the university (object marker)
    • 休学 (kyuugaku) – leave of absence from school
    • する (suru) – to do
    • ことに (koto ni) – the act of
    • 決めた (kimeta) – decided
    Core point: 「休学」 é um substantivo que, com する, forma o verbo ‘tirar uma licença acadêmica’; aqui aparece na expressão 大学を「休学」する.
休学