대학교
daehakgyo[ˈtɛ(ː)ɦa̠k̚k͈jo]
The English word "college" is translated into Korean as 대학교 (daehakgyo).
In Korean, 대학교 is used to refer to both 'college' and 'university,' regardless of the specific size of the institution or its research status.
Meaning: academic institution (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 대학교 is composed of the characters 대 (big), 학 (study) and 교 (school).
Which one should you use?
대학교 is the full formal term, whereas 대학 is a common shortened form used in both speech and writing.
How do you pronounce it?
daehakgyo
Did you know?
- While 대학교 is the general term, a student's specific year is often expressed as 학년, and the first-year students are famously called 새내기, a word that literally means 'newly sprouted'.
- Many Korean colleges have a tradition of MT (Membership Training), a mandatory or semi-mandatory overnight trip where students bond through games and drinking to integrate into the 대학교 community.
- Because the Korean education system is highly competitive, the term 재수생 describes a student who spends an entire extra year studying specifically to retake the entrance exam to get into a better 대학교.
Examples in context
- 저는 서울 대학에 다니고 있어요.I am attending Seoul College.
- 대학 생활은 어떠세요?How is college life?
- 나는 대학교에서 공부해.I study at college.
- 대학교에 다니고 있어요.daehakgyoe danigo isseoyo.I am attending a college.
- 대학교가 아주 커요.daehakgyoga aju keoyo.The college is very large.
- 대학교 졸업이 목표예요.daehakgyo joreobi mokpyeoyeyo.Graduating from college is my goal.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are talking about their future plans.
- 민준 Min-jun민지는 어느 대학교에 갈 거예요?Minji-neun eoneu daehakkyo-e gal geoyeyo?Minji, which college are you going to?
- 민지 Min-ji아직 결정 못 했어요.ajik gyeoljeong mot haesseoyo.I haven't decided yet.
- 민준 Min-jun대학교 선택은 정말 어려워요.daehakkyo seontaeg-eun jeongmal eoryeowoyo.Choosing a college is really difficult.
- 민지 Min-ji맞아요. 고민이 많아요.majayo. gomin-i manayo.That's true. I have a lot on my mind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 대학교, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
