Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

Schools and checking with 校

The kanji 校 is best known for school, but it also carries an older sense of checking or comparing. Its historical development moved from a wooden frame or shackle to the idea of comparing and correcting, and from ordered instruction it came to name the school as a place of organized learning.

Etymology

This kanji is a phono-semantic compound comprised of 木 (wood) as the semantic component and 交 as the phonetic component, giving the on-reading コウ.

Organizations and Institutions

学校 (School)

学校(がっこう) means school. It is the standard general word for an educational institution.

It combines 学 (study) with 校 (school) to show a place for learning.

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Schools and checking with 校.
名探偵コナン » Volume 16 » Page 91

Conan’s classmates aren’t fond of their new teacher’s strict attitude. Ms. Kobayashi explains how at her last school, she couldn’t bring herself to be strict, and it allowed her students to get so out of control that students were injured in a fight.

小林(こばやし):
「だから、この学校(がっこう)では二度(にど)とあんな事(こと)は繰(く)り返(かえ)すまいと…」
“Therefore, to keep from repeating that kind of situation at this school...”
「心(こころ)を鬼(おに)にして自分(じぶん)にも生徒(せいと)にも厳(きび)しくしてきたの…」
“I hardened my heart and became strict, with myself and with my students...”
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転校 (Changing schools)

転校(てんこう) means transferring to another school or changing schools. It describes moving from one educational institution to another.

It combines 転 (transfer) with 校 (school) to show a transfer to a different school.

Manga panel from キラキラとギラギラ showing example of Schools and checking with 校.
キラキラとギラギラ » Volume 1 » Page 195

Following Zen’s absence from school for a while, fights and disobedience have taken over the school grounds. When Lulu learns Zen hasn’t been at home either during this time, she travels to the mountains in search of him. After finding him, she explains the situation at school.

ルル:
「転校(てんこう)してきてから慣(な)れないことばかりで大変(たいへん)だったけど禅(ぜん)くんが学校(がっこう)を休(やす)んで学校(がっこう)の治安(ちあん)が悪(わる)くなって」
“Since I transferred to this school, everything has been unfamiliar and difficult, but ever since you've started missing school, the school's security has gotten worse...”
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小学生 (Elementary school student)

小学生(しょうがくせい) means an elementary school student. It refers to a child in primary school.

It combines 小学 (elementary schooling) with 生 (student) to show a elementary school student.

Manga panel from からかい上手の高木さん showing example of Schools and checking with 校.
からかい上手の高木さん » Volume 8 » Page 122

Seeing a frozen puddle on the ground, Nishikata is excited at the thought of picking it up and holding it. Takagi asks if this is what he’s thinking, and he quickly denies it.

西片(にしかた):
「そんな…　小学生(しょうがくせい)じゃあるまいし。」
“It's not like I'm some kind of...grade-schooler.”
高木(たかぎ):
「ふーん。ホントかな。」
“Hm, I wonder...”
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