私立

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 私立 combines 私, private, with 立, establishment, and is read しりつ; it modifies institutions such as schools and libraries.
• Basic usage: It marks an institution as established or operated by a private rather than national or local-government body.
  • 妹は家の近くの私立高校に通っています。 identifies a private high school, while 公立と私立の図書館を一つずつ見学しました。 contrasts public and private libraries.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 私立 and 公立
  • 私立 focuses on private establishment or operation, while 公立(こうりつ) refers to operation by a public body such as a local government.
• Homophone 市立
  • 市立 is also read しりつ but means established by a city. Use the kanji and surrounding context, including contrasts with 公立, to distinguish it from 私立.
• Use before an institution
  • 私立高校 and 私立の図書館 classify how the institution is run. 私立 alone does not evaluate educational quality or access conditions.