追試
Meaning: A make-up exam or retest — a second chance given to students who missed or failed the original test.
追試 is the safety net of Japanese university life. It is offered to students who missed the original exam due to illness or other legitimate reasons, or sometimes to those who failed and need one more attempt to pass. The rules vary by professor — some are lenient, offering 追試 freely, while others are strict, requiring doctor's notes or capping the maximum score. 追試 is often rumoured to be harder than the original, though this varies. Being in '追試 territory' is a source of stress and shame.
Examples
- 本試落ちたから追試受けないと単位やばい。 正式考试没过,不参加补考的话学分就危险了。He suspendido el examen original, así que tengo que presentarme a la recuperación o pierdo la asignatura.본시험에 떨어져서 재시험 안 보면 학점이 위험해.
- 追試って本試より難しくなるって噂、本当かな。 听说补考比正式考试更难,是真的吗。¿Será verdad el rumor de que la recuperación es más difícil que el examen original?재시험이 본시험보다 어려워진다는 소문, 진짜일까.
- インフルで試験受けられなかったから追試申請した。 因为得了流感没能参加考试,申请了补考。No pude hacer el examen porque tenía gripe, así que he pedido hacer la recuperación.독감 때문에 시험을 못 봐서 재시험을 신청했어.
Pronunciation
/tsɯ.i.ɕi/
Usage Guide
Context: university, academic, friends
Tone: anxious, desperate
✓ Do Say
- 追試あるから勉強しなきゃ。 (There's a make-up exam so I need to study.)有补考所以得复习了。(要参加补考,得好好学习了。)Tengo recuperación, así que necesito ponerme a estudiar. (There's a make-up exam so I need to study.)재시험이 있으니까 공부해야 해. (추가 시험이 있어서 공부해야 돼.)
- 追試認めてもらえるか先生に聞いてみな。 (Ask the professor if they'll allow a make-up exam.)去问问老师能不能给补考机会吧。(去问问教授能不能让你参加补考。)Pregúntale al profesor si te deja hacer la recuperación. (Ask the professor if they'll allow a make-up exam.)재시험 봐도 되는지 교수님한테 물어봐. (추시를 인정해 주실지 교수님에게 문의해 봐.)
✗ Don't Say
- 「追試余裕でしょ」は落ちた人に言ってはいけない (Saying 'the retest should be easy' to someone who failed is insensitive)对考试没过的人说'补考很简单吧'是很不体贴的Decirle «la recuperación será fácil» a alguien que ha suspendido es insensible (Decir «la recuperación será pan comido» a alguien que ha suspendido es una falta de tacto)「재시험 쉽겠지」는 떨어진 사람한테 하면 안 되는 말이다 (시험에 떨어진 사람에게 '재시험 쉽겠지'라고 하면 무신경하다)
Common Mistakes
- Assuming all professors offer 追試 — some courses have a strict no-retake policy, and missing the exam means an automatic fail
Origin & History
Academic term from 追 (follow-up/additional) + 試 (test/exam, shortened from 試験). Standard part of the Japanese university examination system.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern university system, ongoing
Generation: University students (term understood by all ages)
Social background: Universal in academic contexts
Regional notes: Used at all Japanese universities. Policies on 追試 vary significantly between institutions and individual professors.
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