卒業旅行
Meaning: Graduation trip — a celebratory trip taken before entering the workforce, typically in February or March of the final university year.
A deeply ingrained tradition in Japanese student culture, 卒業旅行 is often seen as the last hurrah of freedom before the structured life of a company employee begins. Students typically travel with close friends to domestic or international destinations. It carries a bittersweet emotional weight — celebration mixed with the awareness that the carefree days are ending. Budget destinations like Southeast Asia are popular.
Examples
- 卒業旅行どこ行く?ヨーロッパにしない? 毕业旅行去哪儿?去欧洲怎么样?¿Adónde vamos en el viaje de graduación? ¿Qué tal Europa?졸업 여행 어디 갈래? 유럽 어때?
- 卒業旅行の思い出が今でも一番の宝物。 毕业旅行的回忆到现在都是最珍贵的宝物。Los recuerdos del viaje de graduación siguen siendo mi mayor tesoro.졸업 여행 추억이 지금도 가장 큰 보물이야.
- バイト頑張って卒業旅行の資金貯めてる。 在努力打工攒毕业旅行的费用呢。Estoy trabajando duro en el curro a tiempo parcial para ahorrar para el viaje de graduación.아르바이트 열심히 해서 졸업 여행 자금 모으고 있어.
Pronunciation
/so.tsu.gjoː.ɾjo.koː/
Usage Guide
Context: university, friends, travel planning
Tone: nostalgic, excited, bittersweet
✓ Do Say
- 卒業旅行は一生の思い出になるよ。 (Your graduation trip will be a memory for a lifetime.)毕业旅行会成为一辈子的回忆哦。(毕业旅行会成为一生难忘的记忆。)El viaje de graduación será un recuerdo para toda la vida. (Your graduation trip will be a memory for a lifetime.)졸업 여행은 평생의 추억이 될 거야. (졸업 여행은 일생일대의 추억이 될 거야.)
- 卒業旅行でグアム行ってきた! (I went to Guam for my graduation trip!)毕业旅行去了关岛!(我毕业旅行去了关岛!)¡Fui a Guam en mi viaje de graduación! (I went to Guam for my graduation trip!)졸업 여행으로 괌 다녀왔어! (졸업 여행으로 괌에 갔다 왔어!)
✗ Don't Say
- 社会人が休暇で旅行するのを「卒業旅行」とは言わない (A working adult taking vacation isn't called a 'graduation trip')上班族休假旅行不能叫'毕业旅行'(已经工作的人休假去旅游不叫'毕业旅行')Cuando un adulto que ya trabaja se va de vacaciones, no se le llama 「卒業旅行」 (A working adult taking vacation isn't called a 'graduation trip')직장인이 휴가로 여행하는 것을 '卒業旅行'이라고 하지 않는다 (사회인이 휴가차 떠나는 여행을 '졸업 여행'이라고 부르지 않는다)
Common Mistakes
- Thinking 卒業旅行 can happen any time after graduation — it specifically refers to the trip before starting work
- Not understanding the emotional weight — it is seen as a farewell to student life, not just a vacation
Origin & History
Compound of 卒業 (graduation) + 旅行 (travel). The tradition became widespread from the 1980s-1990s as international travel became more accessible to Japanese students. It is now a cultural rite of passage for university students.
Cultural Context
Era: 1980s-1990s tradition, still universal
Generation: University students (21-22)
Social background: Universal among university students
Regional notes: Used across Japan. February-March is peak season. Hawaii, Guam, Southeast Asia, and domestic onsen are popular destinations.
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