留年
의미: 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.
예문
- 単位足りなくて留年確定した、親にどう言おう。 学分不够，留级已成定局了，该怎么跟父母说啊。Me faltan créditos y ya es seguro que repito curso — ¿cómo se lo digo a mis padres?학점이 모자라서 유급 확정됐는데, 부모님한테 뭐라고 하지.
- 留年したら就活に響くから、今学期はマジで頑張る。 留级会影响找工作的，所以这学期我要真的拼了。Si repites curso afecta a la búsqueda de empleo, así que este semestre me lo tomo en serio de verdad.유급하면 취활에 영향 미치니까 이번 학기는 진짜 열심히 할 거야.
- サークルに夢中になりすぎて留年した先輩がいる。 有个前辈因为太沉迷社团活动而留级了。Hay un senpai que repitió curso porque se obsesionó demasiado con las actividades extraescolares.동아리에 너무 빠져서 유급한 선배가 있어.
발음
/ɾʲɯː.neɴ/
사용 가이드
맥락: school, university, family
어조: serious, worried
✓ 올바른 표현
- 留年だけは絶対に避けたい。 (I absolutely want to avoid being held back.)留级这件事我是绝对要避免的。（我绝对要避免留级。）Quiero evitar repetir curso a toda costa.유급만큼은 절대 피하고 싶어.
- 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.)留级了人生也不会就此结束，别太焦虑了。（留级不是世界末日，所以不要压力太大。）Repetir curso no es el fin del mundo, así que no te agobies demasiado.유급해도 인생이 끝나는 건 아니니까 너무 스트레스받지 마.
✗ 잘못된 표현
- 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)拿别人留级的事来开玩笑是不礼貌的（拿别人留级当笑料是很不体贴的——留级是很大的压力来源）Hacer bromas sobre que alguien ha repetido curso es una falta de respeto — es una fuente seria de estrés.남의 유급을 놀림거리로 삼는 것은 실례다 — 유급은 심각한 스트레스 요인이다
흔한 실수
- 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
기원과 역사
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.
문화적 배경
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.
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