yánjiūshēng: 研究生 - Graduate Student, Postgraduate Student

• Keywords: yánjiūshēng, 研究生, graduate student in Chinese, postgraduate student in Chinese, masters student China, PhD student China, 考研 (kǎoyán), 硕士 (shuòshì), 博士 (bóshì), Chinese education system.
• Summary: 研究生 (yánjiūshēng) is the essential Chinese term for a graduate student or postgraduate student, encompassing anyone pursuing a Master's or PhD degree. Far more than a simple job title, becoming a 研究生 in China is a significant achievement, often requiring success in the intensely competitive national entrance exam, the 考研 (kǎoyán). This page explores the meaning of 研究生, its cultural importance in modern China, and how to use it correctly in conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yánjiūshēng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A graduate student (a student pursuing a Master's or PhD degree).
• In a Nutshell: 研究生 (yánjiūshēng) refers to a student who has completed their undergraduate degree (本科) and is now enrolled in a higher degree program. The name itself literally means “research student,” highlighting the shift from foundational learning in college to specialized research and investigation at the postgraduate level. It's a broad term covering both Master's (硕士) and Doctoral (博士) candidates.

• 研 (yán): To research; to study in detail. The stone radical (石) on the left suggests a process of grinding or polishing, a metaphor for refining one's knowledge through deep study.
• 究 (jiū): To investigate; to examine closely. The top part is 穴 (xuè), meaning “cave,” which evokes the idea of exploring something deep, hidden, or complex.
• 生 (shēng): Student; to be born; life. In this context, it clearly means “student,” as in `大学生 (dàxuéshēng)` (college student) or `小学生 (xiǎoxuéshēng)` (elementary student).

The characters combine to form a very descriptive term: a student (生) who does