予備校

• Reading: よびこう
• Romaji: yobikō
• Kanji breakdown: 予 (beforehand) + 備 (prepare) + 校 (school) → preparatory school
• Pronunciation: /jo.bi.koː/

Meaning

A cram school specifically for university entrance exam preparation, attended by students (often 浪人) aiming for competitive universities.

予備校 are intensive prep schools focused almost exclusively on getting students into their target universities. Major chains like 駿台 (Sundai), 河合塾 (Kawaijuku), and 代々木ゼミナール (Yoyogi Seminar) are household names. Students attend either as 現役生 (current high schoolers supplementing school) or as 浪人生 (gap year students). The culture is intense, with long hours and competitive atmospheres.

Examples

1. 浪人決まったから来月から予備校に通うよ。 I'm going to be a rōnin, so starting next month I'll be attending a prep school.
2. 予備校の先生の授業のほうが学校より分かりやすい。 The teachers at prep school explain things way better than my regular school teachers.
3. 予備校代だけで年間100万円以上かかるんだよね。 Prep school alone costs over a million yen a year, you know.

Usage Guide

Context: education, family, casual conversation

Tone: neutral, informational

Do Say

• 予備校選びって結構大事だから、体験授業行ってみなよ。 (Choosing a cram school is pretty important, so try a trial class.)
• 予備校なしで東大受かるのはかなりすごいよ。 (Getting into Todai without cram school is seriously impressive.)

Don't Say

• 「予備校に行かないと受からない」は言い過ぎ (Saying 'you can't pass without cram school' is discouraging and not always true)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing 予備校 with 塾 — 予備校 specifically targets university entrance exams, while 塾 is broader and serves younger students too

Origin & History

From 予備 (preparation/preliminary) + 校 (school). The institution type emerged in the early 20th century and became a massive industry during Japan's postwar education boom.

Cultural Context

Era: Postwar era onwards, industry peak in 1990s

Generation: All ages — a well-known institution

Social background: Middle to upper class (expensive tuition)

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Major chains are nationwide but most concentrated in urban areas.