Translation guide
In Japanese, referring to a 'university graduate' depends on whether you are talking about the person (a graduate) or the act of graduating. The most common and natural way is to use the verb 卒業する (to graduate) or the noun 卒業生 (graduate/alumnus).
Referring to someone who holds a university degree or has completed their studies.
Abbreviation of 大学卒業. Commonly used in contexts like job hunting, resumes, or describing educational background. It refers to the person as a university graduate.
彼は大卒です。
He is a university graduate.
大卒の初任給はいくらですか。
What is the starting salary for university graduates?
A more formal and explicit term for a university graduate. Used in official documents or statistics.
大学卒業者の就職率は高い。
The employment rate for university graduates is high.
Means 'graduate' or 'alumnus'. Can be used for any school level, so context or adding 大学の clarifies it's a university graduate.
彼はこの大学の卒業生です。
He is a graduate of this university.
卒業生の多くは大企業に就職した。
Many of the graduates got jobs at large companies.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'a person who graduated from university'. Natural in conversation when you need to be clear.
大学を卒業した人は、就職に有利です。
People who have graduated from university have an advantage in job hunting.
Talking about the completion of university studies as a qualification or status.
The noun meaning 'university graduation'. Used when referring to the act or status of having graduated.
大学卒業は就職の条件です。
University graduation is a requirement for employment.
大学卒業後、彼は留学した。
After graduating from university, he studied abroad.
Also used as a noun meaning 'having a university degree' or 'university graduate status'. Often seen in phrases like 大卒以上 (university graduate or above).
大卒 is the everyday abbreviation and is widely used in conversation and job ads. 大学卒業者 is more formal and often appears in written reports or statistics. For most situations, 大卒 is sufficient.
大卒の方を募集しています。
We are looking for university graduates.
大学卒業者の割合が増えている。
The proportion of university graduates is increasing.
The English phrase 'university graduate' is often translated directly as 大学卒業生, but this is less common than 大卒 or 大学卒業者. 卒業生 alone can mean graduate of any school, so specify 大学の卒業生 if needed.
彼女は大学を卒業したばかりです。
She is a recent university graduate.
Using the verb 卒業する is more natural than a noun phrase for 'recent graduate'.
その会社は大卒しか採用しません。
The company only hires university graduates.
応募資格は大卒以上です。
Applicants must be university graduates or above.