Translation guide
A university funded and operated by the national government. In Japan, this refers to 国立大学 (kokuritsu daigaku), which are prestigious public universities.
Referring to a Japanese university that is part of the national university system.
Standard term for a national university in Japan. Often abbreviated to 国立大 (こくりつだい) in casual speech.
The University of Tokyo is a national university.
Tuition at national universities is cheaper than at private ones.
Short for 国立大学, used in compound words or casual contexts.
I'm aiming for a national university.
Referring to a national university outside Japan.
Can be used for national universities in other countries, but may need clarification if the country is not obvious from context.
Seoul National University is a national university in South Korea.
A more descriptive phrase meaning 'a university that is national', useful when 国立大学 might be misunderstood as specifically Japanese.
国立 (こくりつ) means national, 公立 (こうりつ) means public (prefectural/municipal), and 私立 (しりつ) means private. Be careful with pronunciation: しりつ (私立) and いちりつ (市立) can be confused, so 私立 is often pronounced わたくしりつ for clarity.
There are several national universities in Australia.