small private school; cram school
Modern use: a privately run school, often small-scale, especially for exam preparation or supplementary education.
He teaches math at a local private school.
Many students attend private cram schools for entrance exams.
private school (Edo period); Confucian private academy
Historical use: a private school in the Edo period, originally run by Confucian scholars, distinct from official domain schools.
Many private schools were opened during the Edo period.
This private school was originally run by Confucian scholars.
He opened a private school in his hometown and taught children scholarship.
My daughter attends a private cram school to prepare for exams.
In his youth, he studied at a famous private academy.
藩校 were official domain-run schools for samurai in the Edo period, in contrast to 私塾, which were privately established academies.
寺子屋 were Edo-period temple schools teaching basic literacy to commoners, whereas 私塾 were private academies (often Confucian) offering higher-level scholarly instruction.
私学 refers to a formally chartered private school or university, while 私塾 is a small, informal private academy or tutoring school, often historical.
Compound of 私 (private) and 塾 (school). The term has been used since the Edo period to refer to privately established educational institutions, originally often associated with Confucian scholarship.