University of Tokyo; Tokyo University
Abbreviation of 東京大学. Used in both formal and informal contexts, but the full name is preferred in very formal writing.
彼は東大の学生です。
He is a student at the University of Tokyo.
He got accepted into the University of Tokyo last year.
東大を卒業した後、大学院に進学した。
After graduating from the University of Tokyo, I went on to graduate school.
After graduating from the University of Tokyo, she got a job at a large company.
東大 is the common abbreviation used in everyday speech, while 東京大学 is the full, formal name used in official contexts.
東大 refers to the University of Tokyo, whereas 京大 refers to Kyoto University; the two abbreviations are easily mixed up by learners.
灯台 (とうだい) means 'lighthouse' while 東大 (とうだい) is the common abbreviation for Tokyo University, and they are perfect homophones learners often mix up in listening.
Abbreviation formed from the first characters of 東京 (Tokyo) and 大学 (university).