Translation and Meaning of: 学士 - gakushi

If you are studying Japanese or have an interest in the language, you may have come across the word 学士[がくし]. It appears in academic contexts, résumés, and even in conversations about professional qualifications. But what does it actually mean? In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and uses of this word, as well as tips for memorizing it and how it is perceived in Japan. If you want to better understand this term or simply expand your vocabulary, keep reading!

The meaning and translation of 学士 [がくし] is "bachelor" or "bachelor's degree."

The word 学士[がくし] is used in Japanese to refer to a "bachelor" or "university graduate". It describes someone who has completed a degree program and received a higher education diploma. In the Western context, it would be equivalent to a "bachelor's degree", such as "Bachelor of Arts" or "Bachelor of Science".

It is worth noting that, in Japan, the term is formal and often appears in academic documents and resumes. If you have seen a Japanese person writing 学士号[がくしごう], be aware that this variation specifically refers to the "bachelor's degree," while 学士 can be used for the graduated person.

The origin and the kanji writing of 学士

The composition of 学士[がくし] comes from the kanjis 学 (study) and 士 (person, specialist). Together, they create the idea of "someone who has mastered a field of study." This structure is common in other academic terms, such as 博士[はくし] (doctor) and 修士[しゅうし] (master).

Interestingly, the kanji 士 also appears in words like 弁護士[べんごし] (lawyer) and 武士[ぶし] (samurai), always indicating a person with specific knowledge or skill. This relationship helps to understand why 学士 carries a tone of formality and respect.

How and when to use 学士 in everyday Japanese

In daily life, 学士[がくし] is not a word that comes up in casual conversations. It appears more in formal contexts, such as graduation ceremonies, official documents, or discussions about careers. For example, a Japanese person might say: "大学で学士を取得しました" ("I obtained my bachelor's degree at university").

If you are learning Japanese, it is useful to know that this word is less common than 卒業[そつぎょう] (graduation) or 大学[だいがく] (university). However, in professional or academic settings, its use is essential to demonstrate qualification.

Tips for memorizing 学士 and avoiding confusions

A simple way to remember 学士[がくし] is to associate the kanji 学 with "study" and 士 with "specialist." Think of "someone who has studied enough to become a professional." This logic also applies to other academic terms, such as 博士 (doctor) and 修士 (master).

Another tip is to practice with flashcards or apps like Anki, inserting sentences like "彼は経済学の学士です" ("He has a bachelor's degree in economics"). Repeating the term in real contexts helps to embed it naturally in your vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 学位 (Gakui) - Diploma or academic degree, especially referring to a title obtained at the higher education level.
• 大学士 (Daigakushi) - Specific academic title that refers to a university graduate, most commonly used in graduation contexts.

学士

Romaji: gakushi
Kana: がくし
Type: Noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: UNIVERSITY GRADUATE

Meaning in English: university graduate

Definition: One of the degrees awarded upon obtaining a university degree, etc. A degree awarded to those who graduate from a four-year university.

Example Sentences - (学士) gakushi

See below some example sentences:

私は学士の学位を持っています。

Watashi wa gakushi no gakui o motte imasu

I have a bachelor's degree.

I have a bachelor degree.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 学士 (gakushi) - Japanese noun that means "bachelor."
• の (no) - Japanese particle that indicates possession or relationship between nouns
• 学位 (gakui) - Japanese noun meaning "academic degree"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています (motteimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to have" or "to possess" in the present continuous tense