奨学金

• Reading: しょうがくきん
• Romaji: shōgakukin
• Kanji breakdown: 奨 (encourage) + 学 (study) + 金 (money) → study encouragement money / scholarship
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.ga.kɯ.kiɴ/

Meaning

Scholarship — though in Japan, this word most commonly refers to student loans that must be repaid after graduation.

While 奨学金 literally means 'scholarship money,' the vast majority of Japanese 奨学金 (especially JASSO's Type 2) are interest-bearing loans that students must repay over 10-20 years after graduation. This gap between the gentle-sounding name and the harsh reality of debt repayment has become a major social issue. Many graduates struggle with 奨学金 repayment, leading to calls for reform. True grant-type scholarships (給付型) exist but are far less common.

Examples

1. 奨学金の返済が卒業後20年も続くってキツすぎ。 Having to pay back the scholarship loan for 20 years after graduation is brutal.
2. 奨学金借りてるから成績落とせないんだよね。 I'm on a scholarship loan, so I can't let my grades slip.
3. 日本の奨学金ってほぼ学生ローンだよね。 Japanese 'scholarships' are basically just student loans, right?

Usage Guide

Context: university, finances, social issues, family

Tone: serious, sometimes bitter

Do Say

• 奨学金返し終わるまであと15年もある。 (I still have 15 years left to pay off my scholarship loan.)
• 給付型の奨学金に応募したけどダメだった。 (I applied for a grant-type scholarship but didn't get it.)

Don't Say

• 「奨学金もらってるの？すごい！」 — 貸与型だと借金なので素直に褒められると微妙 (Saying 'You got a scholarship? Amazing!' can be awkward when it's actually a loan)

Common Mistakes

• Assuming 奨学金 is free money like Western scholarships — most Japanese 奨学金 are loans (貸与型) requiring repayment, not grants (給付型)

Origin & History

From 奨 (encourage) + 学 (study) + 金 (money). The modern JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) system was established in 2004, but government student support has existed since the prewar era. The 'scholarship in name, loan in practice' criticism has intensified since the 2010s.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern system from 2004 (JASSO), student loan debate intensified 2010s onward

Generation: All ages (universally understood, hot social issue)

Social background: Widely used across economic backgrounds; about half of Japanese university students use some form of 奨学金

Regional notes: Used across Japan. The 奨学金 repayment burden has become a national political issue.