留年

• Reading: りゅうねん
• Romaji: ryūnen
• Kanji breakdown: 留 (stay/remain) + 年 (year) → remaining in the same year
• Pronunciation: /ɾʲɯː.neɴ/

Meaning

Being held back a year in school; repeating a grade or academic year due to insufficient grades or credits.

留年 is a dreaded outcome in Japanese education. In universities, it means failing to earn enough credits to advance to the next year, often resulting from poor attendance, failed courses, or excessive part-time work. It carries significant stigma because graduating 'on time' (ストレート卒業) is expected, and being held back can affect job hunting since companies expect a standard graduation timeline.

Examples

1. 単位足りなくて留年確定した、親にどう言おう。 I don't have enough credits so I'm definitely being held back — how do I tell my parents?
2. 留年したら就活に響くから、今学期はマジで頑張る。 Being held back would hurt my job search, so I'm dead serious about this semester.
3. サークルに夢中になりすぎて留年した先輩がいる。 There's a senior who got so into their club activities that they got held back a year.

Usage Guide

Context: school, university, family

Tone: serious, worried

Do Say

• 留年だけは絶対に避けたい。 (I absolutely want to avoid being held back.)
• 留年しても人生終わりじゃないから、気にしすぎないで。 (Being held back isn't the end of the world, so don't stress too much.)

Don't Say

• 人の留年をネタにするのは失礼 (Making jokes about someone else's grade retention is insensitive — it's a serious source of stress)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing 留年 with 浪人 — 留年 is being held back within school, while 浪人 is taking a gap year before entering university

Origin & History

From 留 (to stay/remain) + 年 (year). A formal academic term that has been in use since the modern Japanese education system was established. While technically neutral, it carries strong negative connotations in practice.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern education system, always relevant

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. The stigma is particularly strong in the context of 就活 (job hunting) where a non-standard graduation timeline raises questions.