受験

• Reading: じゅけん
• Romaji: juken
• Kanji breakdown: 受 (ju) — receive, accept; 験 (ken) — test, examine, effect
• Pronunciation: /dʑɯ.keɴ/

Meaning

Taking an examination, especially an entrance exam. The act of sitting for a test.

Functions as a noun or する verb (受験する). While it can mean any exam-taking, it most commonly refers to entrance exams for schools and universities. 受験生 (jukensei) refers to a student preparing for entrance exams — a stressful but formative period in Japanese education.

Examples

1. 来月、高校の入学試験を受験する。 Next month, I'm taking the high school entrance exam.
2. 受験のために毎日五時間勉強している。 I'm studying five hours every day to prepare for the exam.
3. 受験生の息子を応援しています。 I'm cheering on my son who's an exam student.

Usage Guide

Context: entrance exams, school, university

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 受 (ju, receive/accept) and 験 (ken, test/examine). Literally means receiving a test — submitting oneself to examination.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Young people

Social background: Universal