Translation guide
In Japan, junior high school refers to the three years of lower secondary education following elementary school. The most common term is 中学校, but there are also combined schools and historical terms.
中学校
junior high school
The typical three-year lower secondary school in the Japanese education system.
The standard word for junior high school. Often abbreviated to 中学 in casual contexts.
私は中学校の先生です。
I am a junior high school teacher.
中学校に入学する。
Enter junior high school.
Abbreviation of 中学校, common in casual speech and compounds like 中学生 (junior high school student).
中学の時、サッカー部に入っていました。
I was in the soccer club when I was in junior high school.
A school that offers both lower and upper secondary education, often private.
A combined junior and senior high school, usually private, where students can progress without entrance exams.
中高一貫校に通っています。
I attend a combined junior and senior high school.
The old system junior high school that existed before the post-WWII education reform.
Refers to the pre-1947 junior high school system, which was for boys and led to higher education. Now only used in historical contexts.
祖父は旧制中学校を卒業した。
My grandfather graduated from an old-system junior high school.
中学校 (chūgakkō) is junior high school (grades 7–9), while 高校 (kōkō) or 高等学校 (kōtōgakkō) is senior high school (grades 10–12). Do not confuse them.
中学校を卒業して、高校に進学する。
Graduate from junior high school and go on to senior high school.
中学 is often used in compounds like 中学生 (junior high school student) and 中学校教員 (junior high school teacher). It is more casual than 中学校.