n.
student; pupil
学生
student; pupil
A student or learner, literally 'born to learn'.
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 6 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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 。
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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大学里面的 学生 ，每天学四个学时，四年要学两千八百个学时。
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 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 。
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