放学

You will mostly use 放学 as a verb or a time marker. It is a 'separable' verb-object phrase, but usually, you keep it together. You can say 我们放学了 to mean 'We have finished school.' If you are waiting for someone, you might say 我等你放学. It often pairs with time words like 几点 (what time) or 以后 (after). It is very common in the context of parents picking up children. You will see signs near schools saying 放学时间 (dismissal time). On social media, you might see students posting selfies with the caption 放学啦! to celebrate their freedom. It is simple, direct, and very high-frequency in daily life.

Imagine you are texting a friend to play games. You might ask, 你今天几点放学? (What time do you finish school today?). Or if you are a busy parent, you might tell a colleague, 我要去接孩子放学 (I need to go pick up my kid from school). In a Douyin (TikTok) vlog, a student might show their heavy backpack and say, 终于放学了! (Finally finished school!). Even in professional settings, teachers might say to a class, 现在放学 (School is dismissed now). It is the standard way to talk about the end of the school day. You won't find a more common way to express this specific event.

Use this every single day when school is involved. It is perfect for talking about your daily routine or schedule. Use it when discussing transportation, like 放学后我坐公车回家. It is the right phrase for any K-12 school context, from kindergarten to high school. You can also use it for university, though university students sometimes prefer 下课 since their schedules are more flexible. However, if the whole campus is effectively 'done' for the day, 放学 still works. It is ideal for captions on Instagram or XiaoHongShu when showing off your after-school snacks. Basically, if the bell rang and you're leaving, this is your phrase.

Don't use 放学 for your job—that is 下班 (off work). Using 放学 for work makes you sound like you are stuck in third grade. Also, do not use it for a single class ending. If your math class is over but you have history next, use 下课. 放学 implies the *entire* school day is finished. Do not use it for long holidays like summer break; for that, use 放假. If you are just taking a 10-minute break, this is definitely too big of a word. It is a 'one-and-done' phrase for the end of the day. Using it at 10 AM (unless it is a half-day) will confuse everyone.

Mixing 下课 and 放学 is a classic learner trap. You don't need both! Just use 放学 to mean the day is done.

Unless you are a teacher, don't say 放学 when you leave your office. It sounds like you are escaping a playground.

If the break is long (like a vacation), you need 放假. 放学 is only for the daily dismissal.

下课 (xiàkè) is the closest cousin, meaning 'class is over.' It is for small chunks of time. 散学 (sànxué) is a more formal or old-fashioned way to say school is dismissed. You might see 散学典礼 for a closing ceremony. 放假 (fàngjià) means starting a holiday or vacation. 离校 (líxiào) is more formal, literally 'leaving the school grounds.' It is something you might see in a formal notice. Most of the time, 放学 is the king of the mountain for casual, daily speech. It is the word you will hear on the street and in the hallways.

放学后 (fàngxué hòu) is the most common variation, meaning 'after school.' You will use this to plan everything from bubble tea runs to tutoring. 接放学 (jiē fàngxué) means to pick someone up from school. It is a vital phrase for parents and older siblings. 早放学 (zǎo fàngxué) means getting out early—the dream of every student! 放学回家 (fàngxué huíjiā) is the standard 'going home after school' phrase. You might also hear 学校放学了 as a general statement that the day is over. These variations are the building blocks of discussing your afternoon.

Is 放学 formal or informal? It is neutral and used by everyone from toddlers to professors. Can I use it for a weekend? No, school isn't 'released' on weekends because it never started! What if I have an after-school club? You are still 放学 from the main classes, but you might stay at school. Does it work for online school? Yes, even if you just close your laptop, you can say 放学了. Is it used in movies? All the time—look for the high school drama scenes! Can I say 放学校? No, just 放学. The 'school' part is already implied. It is short and sweet. Why not 终学? Because Chinese loves the 'releasing' (放) imagery much more. What if school ends early? Then it is 早放学. Do adults use this? Only when talking about their kids or their own school days. Is there a 'start school' equivalent? Yes, it is 上学. Can I use it for a cram school? Usually, people use 下课 for cram schools since they are more like individual classes. What is the most common sentence? 你几点放学? (What time do you finish school?). Is it regional? No, it is understood across all of China and Taiwan. Can I use it on a CV? Not really, it is too casual for a professional resume. What is the emotional weight? It is pure, unadulterated joy (usually). Do students hate the word? No, they love the *event* it describes! Is it a verb or a noun? It is a verb-object phrase, so it acts like a verb.