候補生(こうほせい)

こうほせい
noun
trainee; cadet; candidate in training
occupationeducation
1. trainee; cadet; candidate in training
Someone accepted into a program that trains them for a specific post, and who will take up that post once training is complete. From 候補(こうほ) (candidacy) + 生(せい) (student). Almost always used with a preceding word naming the post: 幹部候補生(かんぶこうほせい), 宇宙飛行士候補生(うちゅうひこうしこうほせい).
兄(あに)は幹部候補生(かんぶこうほせい)として採用(さいよう)された。
My older brother was hired as a management trainee.
候補生(こうほせい)は三年間(さんねんかん)の訓練(くんれん)を受(う)ける。
Cadets undergo three years of training.
宇宙飛行士候補生(うちゅうひこうしこうほせい)に選(えら)ばれたのは十人(じゅうにん)だけだった。
Only ten people were chosen as astronaut candidates.
候補生(こうほせい)のうちに現場(げんば)を一通(ひととお)り経験(けいけん)させるのが、この会社(かいしゃ)の方針(ほうしん)だ。
It's this company's policy to have trainees experience every part of the workplace while they are still in training.

Compounds

  • 幹部候補生(かんぶこうほせい): management trainee (a common hiring track at Japanese companies)
  • 自衛官候補生(じえいかんこうほせい): Self-Defense Force recruit
  • 宇宙飛行士候補生(うちゅうひこうしこうほせい): astronaut candidate
  • 候補生(こうほせい)時代(じだい): one's days as a trainee

Similar words

  • 研修生(けんしゅうせい): trainee — someone receiving training, with no promise of a particular post afterward
  • 見習(みなら)い: apprentice — learning a trade by watching and assisting, often manual work
  • 新人(しんじん): newcomer, rookie — already in the job, just new to it

Related Words

Compare: 見習(みなら)い (apprentice)
Compare: 新人(しんじん) (newcomer, rookie)
general
Added 2026.8.12 12:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
30500/30579_kouhosei