years spent as a ronin student
Counter used specifically for the number of years a person has spent as a 浪人 (ronin) after high school, attempting university entrance exams. Often used in compounds like 一浪 (one year), 二浪 (two years).
See also: 浪人
He spent one year as a ronin and finally got into his desired university.
He got into his dream university after spending two years as a ronin.
二浪すると、精神的にも経済的にも負担が大きい。
Spending two years as a ronin puts a heavy burden both mentally and financially.
I plan to take the exam again next year after one year as a ronin.
Derived from 浪人 (ronin), originally meaning a masterless samurai, later applied to students without a school. The counter 浪 is a truncation used in compounds to count years spent as a ronin student.