毕业

You usually place the school name before the word. For example, 大学毕业 means graduating from university. Unlike English, you don't 'graduate school'; you 'school graduate'. It acts like a verb-object compound. You can also add 了 to show you have already finished. It is simple, direct, and very common.

Use it during graduation season in June or July. Use it when updating your resume or LinkedIn profile. It is perfect for small talk when meeting new people. You might ask, "Where did you graduate from?" It works for professional certifications too. If you finish a coding bootcamp, you can say you 毕业 from it.

Don't use it for quitting or dropping out. That is a different vibe entirely. Also, don't use it for finishing a single book or a gym session. It implies a formal program or a long-term commitment. If you finish a meal, saying you 毕业 will make people think you are very weird. Stick to academic or professional milestones.

In China, graduation is a massive family milestone. It is often seen as the moment you truly become an adult. The 'Gaokao' (college entrance exam) is the hard part, so graduating is the reward. Many students take 'graduation photos' in creative costumes, not just robes. It is a time of mixed joy and 'shebude' (sadness to leave friends).

You will often hear 毕业生 which means a graduate (the person). There is also 应届毕业生, which refers to students graduating this current year. In internet slang, people sometimes say they 'graduated' from a company. This is a polite way of saying they were laid off or left a job. It sounds less harsh than saying 'I am unemployed.'