同 窓 生(どうそうせい)

どうそうせい

noun

alumnus; fellow graduate; schoolmate

1. alumnus; fellow graduate; schoolmate; classmate (from the same school)

A person who attended the same school or educational institution, regardless of whether they were there at the same time. The emphasis is on shared institutional connection rather than being in the same class year.

彼(かれ)は高校(こうこう)の同窓生(どうそうせい)だ。

He is a fellow graduate from my high school.

同窓生(どうそうせい)と久(ひさ)しぶりに再会(さいかい)した。

I reunited with a fellow alumnus after a long time.

同窓生(どうそうせい)のネットワークを通(とお)じて仕事(しごと)の紹介(しょうかい)を受(う)けた。

I received a job referral through my alumni network.

Composed of 同窓(どうそう) (same school) + 生(せい) (student, person). 窓(まど) literally means "window" but here metaphorically refers to the classroom or school. Alumni connections (同窓(どうそう)のつながり) are important in Japanese society, especially for career networking.

Common collocations

同窓会(どうそうかい): alumni reunion, class reunion
同窓生(どうそうせい)のつながり: alumni connections
同窓生(どうそうせい)ネットワーク: alumni network
大学(だいがく)の同窓生(どうそうせい): university alumni

Similar words

同級生(どうきゅうせい): classmate — specifically someone in the same year/grade
同期(どうき): same cohort — people who entered the same company or school at the same time
学友(がくゆう): school friend — emphasizes the friendship aspect
卒業生(そつぎょうせい): graduate — focuses on having completed a program

Related Words

Compare: 同級生(どうきゅうせい) (classmate)

Compare: 同期(どうき) (same cohort)

Compare: 学友(がくゆう) (school friend)

Compare: 卒業生(そつぎょうせい) (graduate)

Related: 同窓会(どうそうかい) (class reunion)

general

Added 2026.4.4 1:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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