noun
Dated term for a student, especially from the Meiji and Taishō eras. In modern Japanese, 学生 (がくせい) is the standard word.
明治時代、多くの書生が東京の大学を目指した。
In the Meiji era, many students aimed for universities in Tokyo.
noun
live-in student helper; houseboy attending school
A student who does housework in exchange for room and board while attending school. This arrangement was common in the Meiji and Taishō periods.
彼は書生として先生の家に住み込み、家事を手伝いながら勉強した。
He lived in his teacher's house as a live-in student helper, studying while helping with the housework.