noun
apprenticeship system; apprentice system
Refers to the traditional system of training apprentices, often in crafts or trades, where a master teaches a disciple over a period of time.
日本の徒弟制度は、職人の世界で今も見られる。
The Japanese apprenticeship system can still be seen in the world of craftsmen.
見習い制度 is a more general term for a trainee or probationary system, while 徒弟制度 specifically implies a master-disciple relationship in a traditional craft or trade.
Compound of 徒弟 (apprentice, disciple) and 制度 (system, institution). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with traditional Japanese apprenticeship practices.