同窓(どうそう)

どうそう
noun
fellow alumnus; schoolmate
1. fellow alumnus; schoolmate; alumni
A person who attended the same school. Often used as a modifier in compounds like 同窓会(どうそうかい) (alumni reunion).
彼(かれ)とは高校(こうこう)の同窓(どうそう)だ。
He and I are high school classmates.
同窓会(どうそうかい)に出席(しゅっせき)した。
I attended the alumni reunion.
同窓(どうそう)の友人(ゆうじん)から久(ひさ)しぶりに連絡(れんらく)があり、懐(なつ)かしい話(はなし)で盛(も)り上(あ)がった。
I heard from a school friend after a long time, and we had a great time reminiscing.

Literally "same window" (同(どう) same + 窓(そう) window), referring to students who studied at the same place. Most commonly encountered in the compound 同窓会(どうそうかい) (alumni reunion, class reunion), which is an important social tradition in Japan.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 同窓会(どうそうかい): alumni reunion; class reunion
  • 同窓生(どうそうせい): fellow alumnus; classmate
  • 同窓(どうそう)名簿(めいぼ): alumni directory

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 同級生(どうきゅうせい): classmate — specifically someone in the same grade/year
  • 同期(どうき): colleague from the same entering class — common in companies and organizations
  • 先輩(せんぱい)/後輩(こうはい): senior/junior — based on year, not just same school
general
Added 2026.4.1 6:39
21000/21161_dousou