Korean slang profile

야자

yaja

Evening self-study

An abbreviation of 야간자율학습, meaning evening self-study.

This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.

01Examples, with English translations

Example by Julimmal
고등학교 때는 야자가 끝나면 밤 열 시였어.
In high school, evening self-study didn't finish until ten at night.
Quoted from a source
▲안동 길원여자고교= 고3들은 오전 7시까지 가야하고, 야간자율학습(이하 야자)은 강제이고요.[1]
▲Andong Gilwon Girls’ High School= High school seniors must attend school by 7 a.m., and night self-study (hereafter 야자) is mandatory.
English translation by Julimmal.

April 2004▲Andong Gilwon Girls’ High School= High school seniors must attend school by 7 a.m., and night self-study (hereafter 야자) is mandatory.[1]

Short for “야간자율학습.” The 2004 source from Yeongnam Ilbo explicitly gives this explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.

Evidence for the origin explanationMedium

One source explicitly explains the term. When it was first used is unknown.

Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.