落単
Meaning: Failing a course and losing the credits; dropping a unit due to poor grades or attendance.
落単 is student slang combining 落とす (to drop/fail) and 単位 (credits). It's the nightmare scenario for university students — failing a course means the credits don't count, which can delay graduation or require retaking the class. Common causes include poor attendance, failing the final exam, or not submitting required assignments. The word is used casually among students but carries real academic consequences.
Examples
- 出席足りなくて落単確定だわ、マジ萎える。 出勤不够,挂科已成定局了,真的好丧。No tengo suficientes asistencias y ya es seguro que pierdo los créditos — me deprimo muchísimo.출석이 모자라서 낙단 확정이야, 진짜 기운 빠져.
- 必修を落単したら来年もう一回取り直しだよ。 必修课挂了的话明年还得重修。Si pierdo los créditos de una obligatoria, el año que viene tengo que repetirla.필수 과목을 낙단하면 내년에 다시 들어야 해.
- 落単しまくって4年で卒業できなかった人知ってる。 有人因为挂了太多科没能四年毕业。Conozco a alguien que perdió tantos créditos que no pudo graduarse en cuatro años.낙단을 계속해서 4년에 졸업 못 한 사람 알고 있어.
Pronunciation
/ɾa.kɯ.taɴ/
Usage Guide
Context: university, friends
Tone: dismayed, self-deprecating
✓ Do Say
- 落単だけは避けたいから最低限出席はしてる。 (I attend the bare minimum just to avoid failing the course.)为了不挂科,至少出勤还是保证的。(为了不丢学分,最低限度的出勤我还是保证的。)Asisto al mínimo de clases para no perder los créditos.낙단만은 피하고 싶어서 최소한 출석은 하고 있어.
- 落単したことある?俺3回あるんだけど。 (Have you ever failed a course? I've done it three times.)你挂过科吗?我都挂了三次了。(你有挂过科吗?我已经挂了三次了。)¿Has perdido créditos alguna vez? A mí me ha pasado tres veces.낙단한 적 있어? 나는 3번이나 있는데.
✗ Don't Say
- 教授に「落単させないでください」は図々しい (Asking a professor 'please don't fail me' is presumptuous — earn the credits instead)跟教授说'请别让我挂科'太厚脸皮了(求教授'请别让我挂科'太不知分寸了——应该靠自己的努力修到学分)Pedirle al profesor «por favor, no me suspenda» es un descaro — hay que ganarse los créditos.교수님에게 「낙단시키지 말아 주세요」라고 하는 것은 뻔뻔한 짓이다 — 학점은 스스로 따야 한다
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 落単 with 落第 — 落単 is failing a single course, while 落第 is failing/being held back entirely
Origin & History
Abbreviation of 単位を落とす (to drop/fail credits). A piece of student slang that emerged naturally on university campuses as a quicker way to express the dreaded experience of failing a course.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern university slang, ongoing
Generation: University students
Social background: Universal among university students
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. A staple of university life conversation, especially around grade announcement periods.
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