Translation guide
In Japanese, the term for vocational school depends on the type of training and level of education. The most common equivalent is 専門学校 (senmon gakkō), which refers to post-secondary specialized training colleges. Other terms exist for specific fields or government-designated programs.
A school that provides practical vocational education after high school, typically for 2–3 years, leading to a diploma or certification.
The standard term for a vocational school in Japan. These schools offer specialized courses in fields like fashion, cooking, design, IT, nursing, and more.
私は専門学校でデザインを勉強しています。
I'm studying design at a vocational school.
専門学校を卒業して、すぐに就職しました。
After graduating from vocational school, I got a job right away.
A broader legal category that includes 専門学校 (specialized training colleges) as well as other types of post-secondary and upper secondary specialized schools. Often used in official contexts.
この専修学校では、医療事務のコースがあります。
This vocational school has a medical office administration course.
Schools that focus on a particular trade or profession, often with a more specific name.
A culinary school for training chefs and cooks.
彼は調理師学校を出て、フレンチレストランで働いています。
He graduated from culinary school and works at a French restaurant.
A beauty school for training hairdressers, estheticians, and makeup artists.
美容学校に通って、美容師の免許を取りました。
I attended beauty school and got my beautician license.
An automotive mechanic school.
自動車整備士学校で技術を身につけました。
I acquired skills at an automotive mechanic school.
Public vocational training facilities operated by the government or employment agencies, often for job seekers.
A public vocational training center, often run by Hello Work or local governments, offering short-term courses for job seekers.
失業中に職業訓練校でプログラミングを学びました。
While unemployed, I learned programming at a vocational training center.
A formal term for public vocational training facilities, often abbreviated as 能開校 (のうかいこう).
職業能力開発校で溶接の技術を習得しました。
I acquired welding skills at a vocational training school.
Vocational courses offered within regular high schools or specialized high schools.
A technical high school focusing on engineering, electronics, mechanics, etc.
工業高校で機械工学を学んでいます。
I'm studying mechanical engineering at a technical high school.
A commercial high school focusing on business, accounting, and information processing.
商業高校を卒業して、銀行に就職しました。
After graduating from a commercial high school, I got a job at a bank.
専門学校 (vocational school) focuses on practical skills for specific jobs, while 大学 (university) provides broader academic education. 専門学校 courses are typically 2–3 years, and graduates receive a 専門士 (specialist) or 高度専門士 (advanced specialist) diploma, not a bachelor's degree.
大学に行くか、専門学校に行くか迷っています。
I'm torn between going to university or vocational school.
In English, 'vocational school' can refer to high school level programs (like trade schools in the US). In Japan, 専門学校 is strictly post-secondary. For high school level, use terms like 工業高校 or 商業高校.
A nursing school, often a type of 専門学校 or a hospital-based training program.
看護学校で3年間学び、看護師になりました。
I studied at a nursing school for three years and became a nurse.
An agricultural high school.
農業高校で畜産について学びました。
I studied livestock farming at an agricultural high school.