Level 1

고등학생

godeunghaksaeng

High school student

TOPIK 1

Understanding '고등학생'

The word '고등학생' specifically refers to a high school student in Korea, typically someone attending grades 10 through 12. It is a compound of '고등' (high level) and '학생' (student).

Usage in Daily Life

You will often hear this term when discussing education, school life, or age groups. For example, parents might talk about their '고등학생' children preparing for exams or school events.

Common Collocations

  • 고등학생 때 (when one was a high school student): used to talk about past experiences.
  • 고등학생 시험 (high school student exam): refers to tests or entrance exams.
  • 고등학생 생활 (high school student life): describes daily routines or experiences.

Register and Politeness

The term is neutral and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It is not a title but a noun describing a person's school level.

Learner Tips

Avoid confusing '고등학생' with '중학생' (middle school student) or '대학생' (university student). Pay attention to the context to understand which school level is being discussed.

Example Sentences

고등학생들은 보통 3년 동안 학교에 다닌다.

Godeunghaksaengdeureun botong samnyeon dongan hakgyoe daninda.

High school students usually attend school for three years.

내 동생은 이번에 고등학생이 되었다.

Nae dongsaengeun ibeone godeunghaksaengi doeeotda.

My younger sibling became a high school student this year.

고등학생들은 대학 입시를 준비하느라 바쁘다.

Godeunghaksaengdeureun daehak ipsireul junbihaneura bappeuda.

High school students are busy preparing for college entrance exams.