The Meaning of senkō [選考] In Japanese

選考
せんこう
Romaji: senkō N3

What does 選考 mean?

Translation and Meaning

selection, screening, recruitment screening

Definition

What does 選考 mean? It denotes the process of evaluating and selecting from a group of candidates or options, typically in formal settings such as hiring, admissions, or grant decisions. It centers on screening and assessment leading to a final choice.

Type

Noun (suru-verb)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary sense: the act or process of evaluating and selecting from a group by careful assessment, often including interviews or tests.
  • Contextual uses: common in corporate recruitment, academic admissions, and committee decisions where a subset is chosen.
  • Outcome reference: 選考結果 denotes the result of the screening or the decision, rather than the process itself.

Etymology

On’yomi sen + kō form 選考 (senkō); the characters individually carry the ideas of ‘to choose’ and ‘to think/consider’, and together they convey screening after evaluation.

Origin

Modern term formed and popularized in HR, education, and government contexts; used to describe formal screening and the act of selecting candidates or options.

Composition

  • 選: to choose, pick, or select; the act of making a choice
  • 考: to think, consider, or examine; implies evaluation
  • Overall: 選考 expresses choosing after careful consideration, i.e., a screened selection process

Usage

Used in formal contexts such as HR recruitment, university admissions, and grant committees. Common collocations include 書類選考, 面接選考, and 選考委員会; typically not used in casual speech.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine two gatekeepers named Sen and Kou who must think before letting people through; SenKō embodies the step of thinking before selecting.

Variations

  • 審査 (shinsa) — assessment, screening
  • 選抜 (senbatsu) — selection of a subset
  • 選定 (sentei) — designation or selection
  • 落選 (raku-sen) — not being selected

Example Phrases

  • 就職の 選考結果を 兄に 伝えたら 安堵した。
    Shūshoku no senkō kekka o ani ni tsutaetara andō shita.
    I told my older brother about the job screening results, and I felt relieved.
    Lista:
    • 就職の (Shūshoku no) – employment-related
    • 選考結果を (senkō kekka o) – the selection results
    • 兄に (ani ni) – to my older brother
    • 伝えたら (tsutaetara) – if I tell
    • 安堵した (ando shita) – felt relieved
    「選考」 significa triagem/seleção; neste contexto, 就職の選考結果 refere-se aos resultados do processo de seleção para emprego.
選考