noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
ronin; masterless samurai
Historical term for a samurai without a lord, especially during the Edo period.
江戸時代には、主君を失った武士は浪人と呼ばれた。
In the Edo period, a samurai who lost his lord was called a ronin.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
high school graduate retaking university entrance exams
Only when written 浪人
Modern educational term for a student who has graduated high school but is studying to retake university entrance exams, often after failing the first attempt. Can also be used as a verb with する.
彼は第一志望の大学に落ちて、一年間浪人することにした。
He failed to get into his first-choice university and decided to spend a year as a ronin student.
浪人生活は大変だが、目標のために頑張っている。
Life as a ronin student is tough, but I'm working hard for my goal.
noun
unemployed person; jobless person
Only when written 浪人
Informal extension of the ronin concept to describe someone who is out of work, often between jobs.
会社を辞めてから、しばらく浪人していた。
After quitting my job, I was unemployed for a while.
noun
Only when written 浪人
Archaic original meaning, referring to a person who wanders without a fixed home or purpose. Rarely used in modern Japanese.
古語では、浪人は単にさすらい人を意味した。
In old language, 浪人 simply meant a wanderer.