留年

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 留年 (りゅうねん) is a noun that also forms a する verb for repeating an academic year after not meeting progression or graduation requirements.
• Basic usage: 留年する means to repeat a year, while 留年を避ける means to avoid being held back.
  • 必要な単位が足りず、一年間留年した。 — I had too few credits and had to repeat a year.
  • 彼は留年を避けるため追試を受けた。 — He took an additional exam to avoid being held back.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Repeating a year and taking leave
  • 休学 is a leave from studies, whereas 留年 means remaining in the same academic year because advancement or graduation requirements were not met.