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B1 verb #2,000 most common 5 min read

毕业

bìyè
Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 毕业 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 毕业 in your Level:
At the A1 level, you should think of '毕业' (bìyè) as a single block of meaning: 'to finish school.' You don't need to worry about the complex grammar yet. Just remember that it is something students do. You might use it in very simple sentences like '我毕业了' (I graduated) or '他不毕业' (He is not graduating). At this stage, learners often confuse it with '下课' (finish class), but remember: '毕业' is for the whole school career, not just one day's lesson. You can use it with '学校' (school) by saying '学校毕业' (school graduation). It is a happy word, often associated with '朋友' (friends) and '再见' (goodbye). Focus on the sound 'bì-yè' and associate it with a graduation cap icon. You might hear your teacher say it when talking about the end of a language level.
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At the A2 level, you begin to see '毕业' in context with time and basic locations. You should learn the pattern '时间 + 毕业' (Graduate at [Time]). For example, '我明年毕业' (I graduate next year). You also start to distinguish between different levels of graduation: '大学毕业' (graduate from university), '高中毕业' (graduate from high school), and '小学毕业' (graduate from primary school). Notice that the school type comes *before* the word '毕业'. You should also be able to use '了' to show the action is finished: '他已经毕业了' (He has already graduated). At this level, you might start to use '想' (want) or '要' (will) with it: '我毕业以后想去中国' (After I graduate, I want to go to China). This is a key sentence structure for A2 learners to talk about future plans.
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At the B1 level, you must master the 'separable verb' (离合词) nature of '毕业'. This is the most important grammatical hurdle. You should know that you cannot say '毕业大学' and must instead use '从...毕业' or '毕业于...'. You should also practice inserting words between '毕' and '业'. For example, '毕了业' (graduated) or '毕三次业' (graduated three times - e.g., high school, BA, MA). You will use '毕业' to discuss your resume and career path. You should also learn related nouns like '毕业典礼' (graduation ceremony) and '毕业论文' (graduation thesis). At B1, you are expected to handle complex sentences like '虽然我还没毕业，但我已经找到工作了' (Although I haven't graduated yet, I've already found a job). You should also understand the difference between '毕业' and '结业' (completing a course without a degree).
At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using '毕业' in formal and professional contexts. You will use '毕业于' (graduate from) frequently in written applications and formal introductions. You should also understand the social implications of '毕业' in China, such as the '毕业季' (graduation season) and the pressure of being an '应届毕业生' (new graduate). You can use '毕业' metaphorically or in idiomatic contexts, such as '从新手村毕业' (graduating from the 'newbie village' in a game or skill). You should also be familiar with the phrase '毕业证' (graduation certificate) and '学位证' (degree certificate). Your vocabulary should expand to include '肄业' (dropping out) and '延毕' (delayed graduation). You should be able to debate the value of a university degree using this vocabulary fluently.
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At the C1 level, '毕业' is used with nuance and precision. You should understand its role in formal academic discourse and legal/official documents. You will encounter it in discussions about education reform, employment statistics, and '人才流失' (brain drain). You should be able to use literary synonyms like '学成' or '功成名就' in relation to finishing one's education. You will also understand the nuances of '毕业' in different educational systems (e.g., the difference between a 'diploma' and a 'degree' in a Chinese context). You can use the word in complex rhetorical structures, such as '毕业即失业' (unemployment upon graduation), a common social critique. Your mastery should include the ability to write formal letters of recommendation or personal statements that highlight '毕业' achievements with sophisticated modifiers.
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At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of '毕业' and all its cultural and linguistic permutations. You can appreciate the word's usage in classical-style modern prose or high-level academic papers. You understand the subtle difference in register between '毕业于' and '就读于' (studied at). You can use '毕业' in philosophical discussions about the 'graduation' from one stage of life to another. You are familiar with historical terms for graduation from the imperial examination system (though not directly '毕业', the concepts are related). You can navigate the most complex bureaucratic processes involving '毕业档案' (graduation files/records) and '学历认证' (degree verification). You can also use the word humorously or sarcastically in social commentary about the 'over-education' of the workforce or the 'graduation' of companies (going public or closing down).
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

毕业 in 30 Seconds

  • 毕业 (bìyè) is a separable verb meaning 'to graduate.' It cannot take a direct object like 'graduate university.'
  • Use '从 [School] 毕业' or '毕业于 [School]' to specify where you studied. The latter is more formal.
  • Common collocations include 毕业典礼 (ceremony), 毕业论文 (thesis), and 毕业生 (graduate/alumnus).
  • It is culturally significant in China, especially during '毕业季' (June/July), marking a major life transition.

At its core, 毕业 (bìyè) represents the successful culmination of an academic journey. In the Chinese linguistic framework, it is categorized as a separable verb (离合词), which significantly influences how it functions grammatically. The character 毕 (bì) means 'to finish' or 'to complete,' while 业 (yè) refers to 'studies,' 'coursework,' or 'profession.' Together, they signify the act of finishing one's studies. Unlike the English verb 'to graduate,' which can directly take an object (e.g., 'I graduated college'), the Chinese 毕业 is intransitive in its standard form. You cannot say 毕业大学; instead, you must use specific structures to indicate the institution or the time of completion.

Literal Breakdown
毕 (Bì): To conclude, to end, or to exhaust. It implies a total completion of a task.
业 (Yè): Karma, business, or in this context, academic pursuit (学业).
Functional Category
It is a separable verb. This means that particles like 了 (le), 过 (guò), or duration markers must be inserted between 毕 and 业. For example: 毕了业 (graduated) or 毕过业 (has graduated before).

“我明年就要毕业了，现在正忙着找工作。” (I am graduating next year; I am busy looking for a job now.)

— Common student expression

Beyond the classroom, 毕业 has evolved in modern slang to describe finishing any long-term, arduous process. For instance, in gaming, '毕业装备' (graduation gear) refers to the best possible equipment that signifies you have 'finished' progressing that character. In the context of a hobby, it might mean you've reached a level of mastery where you no longer need formal instruction.

Mastering 毕业 requires understanding three primary sentence patterns. Because it is a separable verb, it behaves differently than standard verbs like 学习 (to study) or 喜欢 (to like).

1. The Basic Intransitive Use

When you simply want to state that someone is graduating or has graduated without specifying the school, use it as a standalone verb.

Subject + (Time) + 毕业 + (了)

Example: 他去年毕业了。(He graduated last year.)

2. Specifying the Institution

There are two ways to mention where you graduated from. The first is the most formal and common in resumes.

Pattern A: 从 + [School] + 毕业
我从复旦大学毕业。 (I graduated from Fudan University.)
Pattern B: [School] + 毕业
他是清华毕业的。 (He is a Tsinghua graduate.)

3. Using '毕业于' (The Academic Suffix)

In written Chinese or formal introductions, the character 于 (yú) is attached to 毕业 to allow it to take an object (the school).

Note that '毕业于' is highly formal. You wouldn't typically use this in a casual conversation with friends; instead, you'd use the '从...毕业' structure.

You will encounter 毕业 in various social and professional settings in China. Its usage spans from emotional ceremonies to cold, hard recruitment processes.

  • The Graduation Season (毕业季 - bìyè jì): Every June and July, Chinese social media (WeChat, Xiaohongshu) is flooded with '毕业季' content. You will hear phrases like '毕业快乐' (Happy Graduation) and see students taking '毕业照' (Graduation photos).
  • Job Interviews: This is the most common professional context. HR will ask: '你是什么时候毕业的？' (When did you graduate?) or '你毕业于哪所学校？' (Which school did you graduate from?).
  • Alumni Networking: When meeting new people, it's common to ask about their alma mater. '你是哪一届毕业的？' (Which year/class did you graduate in?)
🎓Cultural Context: The 'Hardest' Graduation Season

In recent years, the phrase '史上最难毕业季' (The hardest graduation season in history) has become a common news headline, referring to the competitive job market for new graduates (应届毕业生).

Even intermediate learners often trip up on 毕业 due to its unique grammatical constraints. Here are the top pitfalls to avoid:

❌ Direct Object Placement
Incorrect: 我毕业大学了。
Correct: 我大学毕业了。 or 我从大学毕业了。
Reason: 毕业 is intransitive. The school is the source, not the object.
❌ Misplacing '了'
Incorrect: 毕业了以后... (Though common in speech, technically it should be...)
Correct: 毕了业以后...
Reason: As a separable verb, the aspect marker '了' should ideally split the word.
❌ Confusing '毕业' with '结业'
毕业 implies receiving a full degree/diploma. 结业 (jiéyè) means you finished the course but didn't meet all requirements for a degree, or it was a short-term non-degree program.

Understanding the nuances between 毕业 and its synonyms will elevate your Chinese from functional to precise.

结业 (jiéyè)

Completing a course of study without a formal degree. Used for workshops, short-term training, or if you failed the final thesis but finished the classes.

肄业 (yìyè)

Dropping out or leaving school before completion. It indicates you attended but did not finish.

升学 (shēngxué)

To enter a higher level of school (e.g., graduating middle school and entering high school).

离校 (líxiào)

Literally 'leaving school.' This is more about the physical act of moving out of the dorms and leaving the campus.

Note: While '毕业' is the most common, '学成' (xuéchéng) is a more literary way to say one has completed their studies successfully, often used in the phrase '学成归来' (returning after completing studies abroad).

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Separable Verbs

从...到...

于 (Preposition)

了 (Aspect Particle)

是...的 (Emphasis)

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Examples by Level

1

我毕业了。

I graduated.

Basic subject + verb + particle.

2

他不毕业。

He is not graduating.

Negative form with 不.

3

你毕业吗？

Are you graduating?

Simple question with 吗.

4

我们都毕业了。

We all graduated.

Use of 都 (all).

5

老师，我毕业了！

Teacher, I graduated!

Direct address.

6

学校毕业。

School graduation.

Noun-like usage.

7

今天毕业。

Graduate today.

Time + verb.

8

毕业快乐！

Happy graduation!

Common greeting.

1

我明年大学毕业。

I graduate from university next year.

Time + School + 毕业.

2

他已经高中毕业了。

He has already graduated from high school.

已经...了 structure.

3

毕业以后，我想去旅游。

After graduating, I want to travel.

毕业以后 (After graduating).

4

你什么时候毕业？

When do you graduate?

Question with 什么时候.

5

我弟弟还没毕业。

My younger brother hasn't graduated yet.

还没 (not yet).

6

她是去年毕业的。

She graduated last year.

是...的 for emphasis on time.

7

我想快点毕业。

I want to graduate sooner.

快点 (faster/sooner).

8

毕业的人很多。

There are many people graduating.

毕业 as a modifier for 人.

1

我从北京大学毕业。

I graduated from Peking University.

从...毕业 structure.

2

他毕了业就回国了。

He went back to his country right after graduating.

Separable verb with 了.

3

你参加毕业典礼吗？

Are you attending the graduation ceremony?

毕业典礼 (Graduation ceremony).

4

我的毕业论文写完了。

My graduation thesis is finished.

毕业论文 (Graduation thesis).

5

他毕业于上海交通大学。

He graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Formal 毕业于 structure.

6

毕业后你有什么打算？

What are your plans after graduation?

毕业后 (After graduation).

7

虽然毕了业，但我们还是朋友。

Although we graduated, we are still friends.

虽然...但... structure.

8

他在准备毕业考试。

He is preparing for the graduation exam.

毕业考试 (Graduation exam).

1

他是今年的应届毕业生。

He is a new graduate of this year.

应届毕业生 (New graduate).

2

毕业季是找工作最忙的时候。

Graduation season is the busiest time for job hunting.

毕业季 (Graduation season).

3

拿到毕业证和学位证很重要。

It is important to get the graduation and degree certificates.

毕业证 vs 学位证.

4

他因为挂科而延期毕业了。

He delayed his graduation because he failed a course.

延期毕业 (Delayed graduation).

5

我们学校的毕业率很高。

The graduation rate of our school is very high.

毕业率 (Graduation rate).

6

他在毕业感言中感谢了父母。

He thanked his parents in his graduation speech.

毕业感言 (Graduation speech/words).

7

这张毕业照拍得很漂亮。

This graduation photo was taken very beautifully.

毕业照 (Graduation photo).

8

毕业并不意味着学习的结束。

Graduation does not mean the end of learning.

毕业 as a subject.

1

他以优异的成绩从这所名校毕业。

He graduated from this prestigious school with excellent grades.

以...成绩 (With ... grades).

2

许多留学生选择学成后回国发展。

Many overseas students choose to return home for career development after completing their studies.

学成 (Literary synonym for graduation).

3

毕业档案的转递手续非常繁琐。

The procedures for transferring graduation files are very cumbersome.

毕业档案 (Graduation files).

4

他被母校邀请回来做毕业演讲。

He was invited back by his alma mater to give a commencement speech.

毕业演讲 (Commencement speech).

5

肄业生在就业市场上往往面临更多挑战。

Students who leave without graduating often face more challenges in the job market.

肄业生 (Student who didn't finish).

6

这所大学的毕业生遍布全球各大企业。

The graduates of this university are spread across major enterprises worldwide.

毕业生 (Graduates).

7

他正在办理毕业去向登记。

He is registering his post-graduation destination.

毕业去向 (Post-grad destination).

8

毕业即失业的现象引起了社会的广泛关注。

The phenomenon of 'unemployment upon graduation' has attracted widespread social attention.

毕业即失业 (Idiomatic phrase).

1

毕业典礼上的拨穗礼象征着学子们已学有所成。

The turning of the tassel at the graduation ceremony symbolizes that the students have achieved academic success.

拨穗礼 (Turning the tassel).

2

他在学术生涯的巅峰时期，依然怀念那段刚毕业的青葱岁月。

At the peak of his academic career, he still misses those green years right after graduation.

青葱岁月 (Green/youthful years).

3

该校通过严格的毕业审核来确保教学质量。

The school ensures teaching quality through strict graduation audits.

毕业审核 (Graduation audit).

4

从这门艰深的课程中“毕业”，对他而言是一种精神上的洗礼。

To 'graduate' from this profound course was, for him, a spiritual baptism.

Metaphorical use of 毕业.

5

他不仅拥有名校学历，更有丰富的社会实践，是典型的优质毕业生。

He not only has a degree from a famous school but also rich social practice, making him a typical high-quality graduate.

优质毕业生 (High-quality graduate).

6

随着高等教育的普及，毕业生的含金量成为了热门话题。

With the popularization of higher education, the 'gold content' (value) of graduates has become a hot topic.

含金量 (Gold content/Value).

7

他在毕业论文中提出的见解具有前瞻性的学术价值。

The insights he proposed in his graduation thesis have forward-looking academic value.

前瞻性 (Forward-looking).

8

校友会是毕业生维系情感与拓展资源的重要平台。

The alumni association is an important platform for graduates to maintain emotions and expand resources.

校友会 (Alumni association).

Synonyms

结业 肄业 (incomplete) 出师 学成

Common Collocations

大学毕业
顺利毕业
正式毕业
应届毕业
延期毕业
毕业证书
毕业晚会
毕业分配
毕业设计
毕业感言

Common Phrases

毕业以后
还没毕业
快毕业了
毕业多年
刚毕业
毕业于名校
毕业找工作
毕业合影
毕业礼物
毕业旅行

Often Confused With

毕业 vs 结业

Completion without a degree.

毕业 vs 肄业

Leaving school without finishing.

毕业 vs 下课

Finishing a single class session.

Idioms & Expressions

"学成归来"
"功成名就"
"前程似锦"
"后会有期"
"名列前茅"
"满载而归"
"十年寒窗"
"青出于蓝"
"各奔前程"
"毕业即失业"

Easily Confused

毕业 vs

毕业 vs

毕业 vs

毕业 vs

毕业 vs

Sentence Patterns

Word Family

Related

作业
专业
事业
失业
学业
就业
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How to Use It

Separable

You can say '毕不了业' (cannot graduate).

Transitivity

Never say '毕业 [School]'.

Common Mistakes
  • Saying '毕业学校' instead of '从学校毕业'.
  • Using 毕业 for finishing a single class.
  • Forgetting that 毕业 is a separable verb in complex sentences.
  • Confusing 毕业证 (diploma) with 学位证 (degree).
  • Mispronouncing the tones as 2nd or 3rd tones.

Tips

Separable Verb

Treat '毕' and '业' like a verb and its object.

Graduation Season

Learn '毕业季' to talk about June in China.

Alumni

Use '校友' (xiàoyǒu) to refer to fellow graduates.

Resumes

Always include your graduation date and school.

Tone Check

Both are 4th tones; make them sharp.

Formal Use

Use '于' for academic contexts.

Photos

Mention '毕业照' when talking about memories.

HSK Tip

This word often appears in HSK 3 and 4 listening.

Gaming

'毕业' can mean finishing a game or getting best gear.

Bye-Bye

Bi-Ye sounds like saying 'Bye' to your 'Ye' (studies).

Memorize It

Word Origin

Cultural Context

Creative graduation photos (e.g., throwing caps, funny poses) are very popular on social media.

The '拨穗' (turning the tassel) is the most iconic part of the ceremony.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"你是什么时候毕业的？"

"你毕业以后想做什么？"

"你从哪所大学毕业？"

"你的毕业论文写得怎么样了？"

"毕业典礼你会请父母来吗？"

Journal Prompts

写一写你毕业那天的感受。

如果你毕业了，你最想去哪里工作？

你觉得毕业以后，朋友之间的关系会变吗？

描述一下你的毕业典礼。

毕业对你来说意味着什么？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you must say '大学毕业' or '从大学毕业'. 毕业 is intransitive.

毕业 results in a degree; 结业 just means you finished the course.

我两年前毕业了。

Yes, it is mostly used in writing and formal introductions.

Yes, as in '毕业典礼' (graduation ceremony).

A student who is graduating in the current academic year.

You can say '毕业了' or '毕了业'.

A graduation certificate/diploma.

Usually '结业' is better for short workshops.

It is short for '延期毕业', meaning to delay graduation.

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