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.
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.
In the Meiji era, many students aimed for universities in Tokyo.
He lived in his teacher's house as a live-in student helper, studying while helping with the housework.
impoverished student; poor student
From 書 (writing, study) + 生 (life, student). The term originally referred to a student of classical Chinese or a scholar, later broadening to mean a student in general, especially one who lived and worked in a teacher's household.