大学生

• Pinyin: dà xué shēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 大学 (university) + 生 (student, life) — a university student

Meaning

University student; college student. A person currently studying at a university.

Specifically refers to undergraduate students. Graduate students are called 研究生. The word is commonly used in introductions and to describe someone's current status.

Examples

1. 我是一个大学生。 I am a university student.
2. 这些都是大学生。 These are all university students.
3. 大学生的生活很忙。 University students' lives are very busy.

Usage Guide

Context: education, self-introduction

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我是大学生。(I'm a university student.)
• 他们都是大学生。(They are all university students.)

Don't Say

• 他是大学生毕业了 (If graduated, no longer 大学生 — say 大学毕业生 for a graduate)

Origin & History

Compound of 大学 (university) and 生 (student) — a student at a university.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal