It's not easy to retain vocabulary and expressions when studying a language, and it's challenging to get words out on the spot when you're having conversations. I hope these weekly posts could be good practice for your Japanese studies!!
The question for today is: How do you say "Student" in Japanese??
The answer is...
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学生 [Gakusei] or 生徒 [Seito]
学生 [Gakusei] refers to students pursuing education in school. That can be elementary school, middle school, high school, college, or University.
生徒 [Seito] is the same, but can also refer to students learning outside of school. That can be in sports or any type of club that has an instructor and student.
1) When you want to say you are currently a student in school, you would generally use "gakusei".
私は学生です [Watashi wa gakusei desu]
It isn't common to say
2) If you want to say, "I am Mr.Tanaka's student" you would use "seito".
私は田中先生の生徒です
[Watashi wa Tanaka sensei no seito desu]
[Watashi wa Tanaka sensei no seito desu]
and not
[Watashi wa Tanaka sensei no gakusei desu]
If you want to say, "I am a student at this swimming school" you would use "seito".
この水泳学校の生徒です
[Kono suiei gakkou no seito desu]
Writer's note: Japan takes studying to a whole new level by having a majority of students attend cram schools. I can't imagine what it would feel like to have to attend another school after school.