Translation guide
In Japanese, the term for vocational school depends on the type of training and level of education. The most common equivalent is 専門学校 (senmon gakkō), which refers to post-secondary specialized training colleges. Other terms exist for specific fields or government-designated programs.
A school that provides practical vocational education after high school, typically for 2–3 years, leading to a diploma or certification.
The standard term for a vocational school in Japan. These schools offer specialized courses in fields like fashion, cooking, design, IT, nursing, and more.
I'm studying design at a vocational school.
After graduating from vocational school, I got a job right away.
A broader legal category that includes 専門学校 (specialized training colleges) as well as other types of post-secondary and upper secondary specialized schools. Often used in official contexts.
This vocational school has a medical office administration course.
Schools that focus on a particular trade or profession, often with a more specific name.
Public vocational training facilities operated by the government or employment agencies, often for job seekers.
A public vocational training center, often run by Hello Work or local governments, offering short-term courses for job seekers.
While unemployed, I learned programming at a vocational training center.
A formal term for public vocational training facilities, often abbreviated as 能開校 (のうかいこう).
Vocational courses offered within regular high schools or specialized high schools.
専門学校 (vocational school) focuses on practical skills for specific jobs, while 大学 (university) provides broader academic education. 専門学校 courses are typically 2–3 years, and graduates receive a 専門士 (specialist) or 高度専門士 (advanced specialist) diploma, not a bachelor's degree.
I'm torn between going to university or vocational school.
In English, 'vocational school' can refer to high school level programs (like trade schools in the US). In Japan, 専門学校 is strictly post-secondary. For high school level, use terms like 工業高校 or 商業高校.
I attended beauty school and got my beautician license.
A nursing school, often a type of 専門学校 or a hospital-based training program.
I studied at a nursing school for three years and became a nurse.
I acquired skills at an automotive mechanic school.
I acquired welding skills at a vocational training school.
After graduating from a commercial high school, I got a job at a bank.
An agricultural high school.
I studied livestock farming at an agricultural high school.