1.
part-time school system; evening school; fixed-schedule schooling
A schooling system, especially at the high school level, where classes are held at set times outside regular daytime hours — typically in the evening. Designed for students who work during the day.
定時制高校に通っている。
I attend a part-time high school.
働きながら定時制で卒業した。
I graduated from evening school while working.
定時制課程は4年間で卒業するのが一般的だが、3年で卒業できる学校もある。
The part-time course typically takes four years to complete, but some schools allow graduation in three.
Composed of 定時 (fixed time, scheduled time) and 制 (system). Refers primarily to 定時制高校 — high schools that hold classes in the evening (or sometimes morning/afternoon) for students who cannot attend regular full-time school.
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
定時制高校 was originally established after World War II for working youth who needed to earn a living while completing their education. Today's students come from diverse backgrounds — working adults, students who left full-time school, and older learners. The standard course is four years rather than the usual three.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 定時制高校 — part-time (evening) high school
- 定時制課程 — part-time course/program
- 定時制に通う — to attend part-time school
RELATED TERMS:
- 全日制 — full-time (school) system; the regular daytime program
- 通信制 — correspondence school system; learning by mail/online
- 夜間学校 — night school; a more general term