noun
student who has failed university entrance exams multiple times
Refers to a high school graduate who has been a 浪人 (ronin, a student preparing for university entrance exams after failing once) for multiple years. The prefix 多 (ta) means 'many', indicating repeated failures. Often carries a nuance of persistence or stigma.
See also: 浪人
彼は多浪生だが、今年こそ医学部に合格したいと言っている。
He is a student who has failed the entrance exams multiple times, but he says he wants to pass the medical school exam this year.
多浪生の数が増えているというニュースを読んだ。
I read a news article saying the number of students who have failed university entrance exams multiple times is increasing.
A student who has failed the entrance exams once and is studying for the next attempt. 多浪生 implies two or more failures.
Compound of 多 (ta, 'many') + 浪 (rō, from 浪人 'ronin, student retaking entrance exams') + 生 (sei, 'student'). The term likely emerged in the context of Japan's competitive university entrance exam system.