二 年 生(にねんせい)

にねんせい

noun

second-year student; sophomore

1. second-year student; second-grader; sophomore

A student in their second year of a given school level. As with 一年生(いちねんせい), the school type is given or understood from context (elementary, junior high, high school, or university).

娘(むすめ)は今(いま)二年生(にねんせい)だ。

My daughter is in second grade now.

大学(だいがく)二年生(にねんせい)から専門(せんもん)科目(かもく)が増(ふ)える。

From sophomore year of university, specialized subjects increase.

中学(ちゅうがく)二年生(にねんせい)になると、部活動(ぶかつどう)で後輩(こうはい)を指導(しどう)する立場(たちば)になる。

When you become a second-year junior-high student, you take on the role of guiding underclassmen in club activities.

Compound of 二年(にねん) (two years) + 生(せい) (student). The school type is normally specified (小学(しょうがく)二年生(にねんせい), 中学(ちゅうがく)二年生(にねんせい), etc.) or clear from context.

Common collocations

小学(しょうがく)二年生(にねんせい): second-grader (elementary)
中学(ちゅうがく)二年生(にねんせい): second-year junior high student
高校(こうこう)二年生(にねんせい): second-year high school student
大学(だいがく)二年生(にねんせい): university sophomore

Similar words

一年生(いちねんせい): first-year student
三年生(さんねんせい): third-year student
中(ちゅう)二(に): 'middle-school second-year' (very common abbreviation; also slang for awkward teenage behavior)

Related Words

Compare: 一年生(いちねんせい) (first-year student)

Compare: 三年生(さんねんせい) (third-year student)

Compare: 二年間(にねんかん) (two years)

general

Added 2026.5.14 12:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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