新卒（しんそつ、shinsotsu）
- new graduate

The Japanese word 新卒, read しんそつ, refers to a "new graduate" or a "fresh graduate." ⚫︎It specifically describes individuals who have recently graduated from university or a similar educational institution and are seeking their first full-time employment. ⚫︎The focus is usually on those who are in their first job search immediately after graduation. ⚫︎新卒 generally implies a lack of significant prior work experience.

⚫︎私は新卒で、この会社に入りました。 ⚫︎Translation: I am a new graduate, and I joined this company. ⚫︎新卒採用の募集がありますか？ ⚫︎Translation: Are there any recruitment openings for new graduates? ⚫︎新卒向けの研修が充実しています。 ⚫︎Translation: The training for new graduates is comprehensive.

⚫︎You would use 新卒 when discussing job searching, recruitment, or career paths for recent graduates. ⚫︎It's common in contexts like job advertisements, company information about hiring practices, and conversations about education and employment. ⚫︎It’s used as a noun to describe the person or as an adjective modifying a noun, e.g., 新卒社員 (fresh graduate employee).

⚫︎The word is typically written with the kanji 新 (shin - new) and 卒 (sotsu - graduate). ⚫︎The reading is しんそつ in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎There aren't many direct synonyms, as 新卒 is a specific term. However, terms that imply a similar idea, depending on context, might include: ⚫︎卒業生 (sotsugyousei) - graduate (more general) ⚫︎新人 (shinjin) - newcomer; new employee (after hiring) ⚫︎フレッシュマン (furesshuman) - freshman (loanword, also used for new employees)

⚫︎The direct opposite would be someone with significant work experience. Therefore, there are no single-word antonyms but rather phrases: ⚫︎中途採用 (chuuto saiyo) - mid-career hiring ⚫︎経験者 (keikensha) - experienced person

来年、新卒向けの合同説明会に参加します。 ⚫︎Translation: I will participate in a joint information session for new graduates next year. ⚫︎Explanation: This sentence describes an event geared towards recruiting new graduates.

あの会社は新卒採用に積極的です。 ⚫︎Translation: That company is actively recruiting new graduates. ⚫︎Explanation: This indicates the company prioritizes hiring recent graduates.

⚫︎The word 新卒 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ⚫︎新 (shin) meaning "new" or "fresh" ⚫︎卒 (sotsu) which means "graduate" or "to graduate" ⚫︎Therefore, the combination 新卒 literally means "new graduate."