n.
student; pupil
学生
Common Usage & Traps
- 中国学生 — Chinese student
- 大学生 — university student
- 是学生 — be a student
- 一个学生 — one student
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我学生我是学生English speakers drop the verb because English says 'I am a student' or even 'I student' in notes. Chinese normally needs 是 before a noun like 学生.
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学生，请问...同学，请问...学生 is a role, not a direct way to call someone. Use 同学 when getting a classmate's attention.
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中国的学生 (to mean Chinese student)中国学生中国的学生 is not always wrong, but it sounds like 'students of China' or a contrastive group. For a nationality label, drop 的.
Do you need 一个 in 我是学生?
No. 我是学生 is normal; 我是一个学生 just makes 'one' louder.
Chinese does not need an article before 学生. 我是学生 is the normal way to say 'I am a student.' Add 一个 only when you are counting or stressing exactly one. In casual speech, 我是一个学生 sounds heavy and a bit textbook. Use 我是一名学生 in formal writing or introductions.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Just saying your role | 我是学生 | 我是一个学生 (not wrong, but heavy) |
| Counting students | 我们班有三十个学生 | 我们班有三十学生 |
| Formal intro | 我是一名学生 | 我是一个学生 in a speech |
| Missing 是 | 我是学生 | 我学生 |
When should you call someone 同学 instead of 学生?
Use 同学 for classmates and direct address; 学生 is a role, not a name.
学生 describes anyone enrolled in school or learning from a teacher. 同学 means classmate or schoolmate and works as a friendly way to get attention. If you shout 学生 to a classmate, it sounds like a category, not a person. Teachers say 我的学生 when discussing pupils. Students usually say 同学 when talking to each other.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Address a classmate | 同学，请问... | 学生，请问... |
| Talk about enrollment | 他是学生 | 他是同学 (for 'he is a student') |
| Teacher's pupils | 我的学生很努力 | 我的同学很努力 (teacher speaking) |
| Class address | 同学们，安静 | 学生们，安静 (as direct address) |
Why is it 中国学生, not 中国的学生?
Nationality labels drop 的 before identity nouns like 学生.
Chinese treats 中国 as a label when it combines with nouns like 学生. 中国学生 means a student with Chinese nationality. 中国的学生 can mean students in China or students belonging to China. It often sounds contrastive or possessive. The default nationality label drops 的.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality label | 中国学生 | 中国的学生 (for a neutral label) |
| Nationality plus teacher | 美国老师 | 美国的老师 (for a neutral label) |
| Country's students | 中国的学生很多 | 中国学生很多 (when you mean students in China, not nationality) |
| Specific group | 中国的学生 | 中国学生 (when you mean students of China, not nationality) |
Appears in Stories 5 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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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学生 上学校，医生不上学。
Before you read: this is a short rhyming poem. You will meet a doctor who asks about seeing and hearing. Try to spot words you already know!
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女士和男士，男生和女生，先生和 学生 。
This playful poem helps you count and practice vocabulary about clothes, students, and pets. Enjoy the rhythm while learning new words.
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六七个男 学生 ，七八个女同学，八九个好朋友。
This playful reading contrasts small universities and big primary schools. You will practice basic words for school levels and sizes while enjoying a simple rhythmic verse.
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学生 都上学。
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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老先生看见高先明，知道他不是中国 学生 。
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