v.
to finish class; class is over
下课
Common Usage & Traps
- 下课了 — class is over
- 下课以后 — after class
- 快下课了 — class is almost over
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我去下课我去上课下课 means class is ending; if you're heading to class, use 上课.
Why does 下课 mean class is over, while 上课 can mean both go to class and teach class?
下 means leave class; 上 means enter or start class.
下 pulls you out of the classroom; 上 pushes you into it or starts the session. 下课 describes the moment when a class ends and students leave the room. 上课 describes the moment when a class starts or someone attends/teaches it. Context tells you whether the person is a student or a teacher in the room. “上班和下班， 上课和下课， 上午和下午。” (Clock in and clock out, start class and end class, morning and afternoon.) ── [《电脑没脑子》](/read/computers-have-no-brains#s4)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Class just ended | 下课了。 | 上课了。 |
| Going to attend class | 我去上课。 | 我去下课。 |
| Teacher starts lesson | 老师上课。 | 老师下课。 |
If class just ended, why do you say 下课了 instead of just 下课?
了 marks the new situation: class is over now.
Use 下课了 when the bell rings and everyone is free to go. Use plain 下课 for schedules, signs, or after 快, 要, or 三点. The 了 here is the [了](/grammar/le1-completed-aspect-62) that marks a new situation, not a past-tense button.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Class just ended | 下课了。 | 下课。 |
| Future timetable | 三点下课。 | 三点下课了。 |
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- Scene #1
上班和下班，上课和 下课 ，上午和下午。
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