1.
alma mater; one's old school
The school one graduated from or previously attended. Used with a sense of affection or nostalgia for one's former school.
久しぶりに母校を訪ねた。
I visited my old school after a long time.
母校が甲子園に出場して嬉しい。
I'm happy that my alma mater made it to Koshien.
母校の校舎が建て替えられて、すっかり様変わりしていた。
My old school building had been rebuilt and looked completely different.
Literally "mother school" (母 = mother + 校 = school). The metaphor of "mother" conveys the nurturing, formative relationship.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 母校を訪ねる (to visit one's alma mater)
- 母校に帰る (to return to one's old school)
- 母校を応援する (to cheer for one's alma mater)
USAGE NOTE:
Can refer to any school previously attended — elementary, middle, high school, or university. Most commonly used for the school the speaker has the strongest emotional connection to.