Usage note
大学是高中毕业后可以继续学习的地方，比如学科学、文学或艺术。
Dàxué shì gāozhōng bìyè hòu kěyǐ jìxù xuéxí de dìfāng, bǐrú xué kēxué, wénxué huò yìshù.
This word refers to a place where you can study after high school, like learning science, literature, or art.
Context note
大学是完成中学后继续学习的地方，属于学校话题。
dàxué shì wánchéng zhōngxué hòu jìxù xuéxí de dìfāng, shǔyú xuéxiào huàtí.
This word is used when talking about a place where people study after finishing high school. It belongs to the topic of school.
5 examples
我想上大学
Wǒ xiǎng shàng dàxué
I want to go to university.
他毕业于北京大学
Tā yǐbù qìlì yóuyè Běndà Dàxué
He graduated from Peking University.
大学里有很多课程
Dàxué lǐ yǒu hěn duō kēchéng
There are many courses in university.
我妹妹在读大学
Wǒ mèimei zài dú dàxué
My younger sister is studying at university.
大学生活很有趣
Dàxué huóshēng hěn yǒuqù
University life is very interesting.
5 mini stories
小明的梦想是上大学。他现在在中学读书。
Xiǎo míng de mèngxiǎng shì shàng dàxué. Tā xiànzài zài zhōngxué dúshū.
Xiaoming's dream is to go to university. He is now studying in middle school.
小红的哥哥在大学里学计算机。他很喜欢他的专业。
Xiǎo hóng de gēge zài dàxué lǐ xué jìsuànqí. Tā hěn xǐhuān tā de zhuānyè.
Xiaohong's brother is studying computer science in university. He really likes his major.
妈妈说大学毕业后可以找好工作。
Māma shuō dàxué bùhòu kěyǐ zhǎo hǎo gōngzuò.
Mom says that after university graduation, one can find a good job.
爸爸希望我将来能上大学。
Bàba xīwàng wǒ jiāqiě néng shàng dàxué.
Dad hopes I will be able to go to university in the future.
姐姐在大学里认识了很多朋友。
Jiějie zài dàxué lǐ rènshí le hěnduō péngyǒu.
My sister made many friends at university.
Mini dialogue
哥哥上大学
A
你哥哥在哪里上学？
Nǐ gēge zài nǎlǐ shàngxué?
Where does your older brother go to school?
B
他在北京大学上大学。
Tā zài Běijīng Dàxué shàng dàxué.
He goes to university at Peking University.
想上大学
A
我长大了想上大学。
Wǒ zhǎngdà le xiǎng shàng dàxué.
I want to go to university when I grow up.
B
好啊，大学里可以学到很多知识。
Hǎo a, dàxué lǐ kěyǐ xué dào hěn duō zhīshi.
Great, you can learn a lot of knowledge at university.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
小学
xiǎoxué
primary school
Primary school comes before university.
contrast
中学
zhōngxué
middle school
Middle school is the stage before university.