To test, assess, or levy based on measured results.
A lesson, class, course, or subject of study. Speech (讠) beside fruit/result (果): spoken lessons that bear fruit.
课
Common Usage & Traps
- 上课 — to attend class / to teach class
- 下课 — class is over
- 去上课 — go to class
- 汉语课 — Chinese class
- 上汉语课 — take Chinese class
- 上课的时候 — during class
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去课去上课You need 上 before 课 when you mean attending or having class. 去课 sounds like you are going to a thing called 课.
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上课汉语上汉语课The subject goes between 上 and 课. Say 上汉语课, not 上课汉语.
If 上课 means class starts, does 下课 mean class goes downstairs?
No — 下课 means class is over, not going downstairs.
上 and 下 are not stairs here. They mark the start and end of a class. 上课 is when class begins or you have class. 下课 is when the bell rings and everyone leaves. So 下课了，我们去吃饭吧 is natural.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | 下课 = class is over | 下课 = go downstairs to class |
| Opposite | 上课 = class starts or you have class | 上课 = go upstairs to class |
Does 上课 mean 'to teach' or 'to attend class'?
Both — who says it decides whether they teach or attend.
上课 does not pick a side of the classroom. A student saying 我下午上课 means I have class this afternoon. A teacher saying the same sentence means I teach this afternoon. The role of the speaker makes it clear.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Student speaking | 我下午上课。 = I have class this afternoon. | Assuming 上课 only means teach. |
| Teacher speaking | 我下午上课。 = I teach this afternoon. | Assuming 上课 only means attend. |
| Clarity | The speaker's role makes it clear. | Assuming one meaning for everyone. |
Can you say 去课 for 'go to class'?
No — say 去上课. 课 needs 上 when you attend class.
English says go to class, but Chinese says 去上课. The 上 is the action of attending or having class. Without it, 去课 sounds like going to a thing called 课. Use 去上课 for going to class.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Going to class | 我去上课。 | 我去课。 |
| With time | 我明天去上课。 | 我明天去课。 |
Why is it 上汉语课, not 上课汉语?
Say 上汉语课. The subject goes between 上 and 课.
The pattern is 上 + subject + 课. So Chinese class is 上汉语课, not 上课汉语. If you say 我上汉语课, it means I take Chinese class. Putting 汉语 after 课 breaks the pattern.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Word order | 上汉语课 | 上课汉语 |
| With 我 | 我上汉语课。 | 我上课汉语。 |
| With time | 我明天上汉语课。 | 我明天上课汉语。 |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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人太多，我很少真的说汉语，所以这个“汉语 课 ”很没意思。
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我这四年上网跟老师 上课 ，学了最多四百个学时。
This playful poem will make you smile as you explore how Chinese words like 'computer' and 'phone' can be funnier than they seem. Get ready to enjoy simple HSK 1 vocabulary and a twist of logic!
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上班和下班， 上课 和 下课 ，上午和下午。
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
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他要去大学 上课 。
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