専門学校（せんもんがっこう、senmoんgaっkou）
- vocational school

専門学校, which is read as せんもんがっこう, refers to vocational schools or professional training colleges in Japan. 専門学校s offer specialized education and training in various fields, focusing on practical skills and knowledge needed for specific careers. These schools are designed to prepare students for immediate employment after graduation. Unlike universities, 専門学校s typically have a more focused curriculum and shorter program durations. They provide a bridge between high school and the working world, offering practical skills training in areas such as IT, healthcare, design, culinary arts, and many other fields.

⚫︎私は卒業後、専門学校でグラフィックデザインを学びたいです。 Translation: I want to study graphic design at a vocational school after graduation. ⚫︎あの専門学校は、看護師になるためのコースが人気です。 Translation: That vocational school is popular for its courses to become a nurse. ⚫︎彼は専門学校で料理の腕を磨いています。 Translation: He is honing his culinary skills at a vocational school.

You use 専門学校 when referring to vocational schools or professional training colleges. It's used when discussing education, career goals, or the type of institution a person attends. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts. When talking about where someone studies, "専門学校" can be used instead of the longer phrase "a vocational school".

専門学校 is typically written in kanji 専門 and 学校, with the reading in hiragana: せんもんがっこう. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana (送りがな, or suffix hiragana) is standard and doesn't have variations.

There are no direct synonyms in Japanese that carry the exact meaning. However, depending on context, you might refer to specific areas of study, like: • 看護学校 (kangogakko) - Nursing school • 調理師学校 (chōrishi gakkō) - Culinary school • 美容専門学校 (biyō senmongakkō) - Beauty vocational school These are specialized types of vocational schools.

The direct antonyms for 専門学校 aren't easily defined as they are used in contrasting with different types of educational institutions. However, they may be compared to: • 大学 (daigaku) - University • 短期大学 (tankidaigaku) - Junior college

彼は来年から、コンピューターの技術を学ぶために専門学校に通う予定です。 ・Translation: He plans to attend a vocational school next year to learn computer skills. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone's future educational plans, highlighting their intention to attend a 専門学校 to gain specific technical skills.

この専門学校は、卒業生の就職率が高いことで有名です。 ・Translation: This vocational school is famous for its high employment rate among graduates. ・Explanation: This sentence emphasizes the practical focus of 専門学校s and their effectiveness in preparing students for the job market.

The word 専門学校 is a compound word. 専門 (senmon) means "specialty," "specialization," or "expert," and 学校 (gakkō) means "school." Therefore, it literally means "specialty school" or "specialized school," reflecting the focus on specialized training.