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A1 verb #3,000 most common 10 min read

放学

fàng xué Top 3,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 放学 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 放学 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '放学' (fàng xué) is a vital vocabulary word for describing your daily routine. It is one of the first verbs you learn because it helps you answer the question 'What do you do every day?' Beginners should focus on the simple meaning: 'to finish school.' You will mostly use it with time. For example, '我四点放学' (I finish school at four). It's important to remember that you don't need to add the word 'school' (学校) after it, because '学' already means school. Just think of '放学' as a single action. You will also hear '放学了!' which means 'School is over!' This is a very common phrase you might hear in a classroom or a cartoon. At this level, don't worry about the complex grammar; just use it to talk about when you or your children finish their day at school.

At the A2 level, you can start using '放学' in more descriptive sentences and combine it with other activities. You should learn to use the word with '以后' (yǐ hòu - after). For example, '放学以后，我往家走' (After school, I walk home). You can also use it with frequency adverbs like '常常' (often) or '总是' (always). This level also introduces the idea of 'picking someone up' using the verb '接' (jiē). A common A2 sentence would be: '妈妈每天下午五点来接我放学' (Mom comes to pick me up from school at 5 PM every day). You should also be able to distinguish '放学' from '下课' (finishing a single class). Remember that '放学' is for the whole day, while '下课' is for just one lesson.

At the B1 level, you should understand that '放学' is a 'separable verb' (离合词). This means you can put things in the middle of the word. For example, '放了学' (having finished school). This is useful for showing the sequence of actions: '放了学，我们就去踢足球' (After school finished, we went to play soccer). You can also use '放学' in the context of school rules and social situations. For example, you might discuss '放学时间' (school-dismissal time) or the '放学高峰' (after-school traffic peak). You should also be comfortable using it in more complex structures like '一边...一边...' (while...): '我们一边放学一边聊天' (We chatted while leaving school). At this level, you start to see the word as part of a larger social ritual in Chinese culture.

At the B2 level, you can use '放学' to discuss broader educational and social issues. You might talk about the '双减' (Shuāngjiǎn - Double Reduction) policy in China and how it has changed '放学时间' or after-school activities. You should be able to use the word in formal writing, such as '校方决定延迟放学' (The school decided to delay dismissal). You can also use more advanced collocations like '放学路上' (on the way home from school) to set the scene for a story or essay. At this stage, you should also understand the nuance of using '放学' versus more formal terms like '离校' (leaving campus) or '散学' (dismissal). You should be able to describe the 'school gate culture' (校门口文化) that occurs during the transition of '放学'.

At the C1 level, your use of '放学' should be nuanced and context-aware. You might analyze the psychological impact of '放学' on students or the sociological implications of the 'pick-up' culture at school gates. You can use the word in metaphorical or literary contexts, perhaps discussing the 'release' from the 'school of life.' You should be familiar with how '放学' appears in literature or film to represent a moment of transition or lost innocence. Your vocabulary should include related idioms or set phrases, and you should be able to discuss the evolution of the term. For instance, how the 'releasing' of students has changed from the traditional 'Sishu' (private old-style schools) to modern state schools. You can also handle complex grammatical structures where '放学' is part of a long, modifying clause.

At the C2 level, '放学' is a simple tool in a very large shed. You can discuss the word's etymology in depth, linking the character '放' to its ancient meanings and how they combined with '学' over centuries. You can engage in high-level debates about educational reform, using '放学' as a pivot point to discuss student welfare, parental anxiety (educational 'involution' or 'nèijuǎn'), and the urban planning of school zones. You can appreciate the word's appearance in poetry or high-brow cinema, where '放学' might symbolize the end of an era or the beginning of an awakening. Your mastery includes knowing exactly when *not* to use '放学' in favor of highly specialized academic or legal terms regarding school hours and student dismissal protocols.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

放学 in 30 Seconds

放学 (fàng xué) means 'to finish school for the day.'
It is a verb-object compound (separable verb).
Commonly used with time (e.g., 4 PM) and '以后' (after).
Differs from '下课' (one class ends) and '下班' (work ends).

The term 放学 (fàng xué) is one of the most fundamental and culturally significant verbs in the Chinese language, especially within the context of daily life for students and families. At its most basic level, it translates to 'to finish school for the day' or 'to be let out of school.' However, its linguistic roots and cultural baggage offer a much richer story. The word is composed of two characters: 放 (fàng), meaning 'to release,' 'to let go,' or 'to set free,' and 学 (xué), which refers to 'study' or 'school.' In a literal sense, it describes the 'releasing' of students from the rigors of their academic duties.

Daily Routine: In China, where school hours are notoriously long, sometimes starting at 7:30 AM and ending as late as 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM for primary students, the moment of '放学' is a major daily transition. It is the boundary between formal education and the evening activities of homework, tutoring, or family time.
Social Context: When you hear someone say '放学了' (fàng xué le), it carries an emotional weight of relief and freedom. It is not just a statement of fact but often a signal for the start of social interactions, such as students gathering at the school gate to buy snacks or walk home together.

下午四点，学生们准时放学了。(At four o'clock in the afternoon, the students finished school on time.)

The use of '放学' is universal across all levels of mandatory education, from kindergarten (幼儿园) to high school (高中). While university students might use more specific terms like '下课' (class is over) because their schedules are fragmented, '放学' remains the standard term for the collective end of the school day. It is used by parents asking their children when they will be home, by teachers dismissing their classes, and by students planning their afternoons.

你几点放学？(What time do you finish school?)

Culturally, the 'after-school' period is a vibrant scene in Chinese cities. The area around the school gate (校门口) becomes a bustling marketplace and social hub. Parents and grandparents wait in long lines (the 'pick-up' culture), and street vendors sell everything from 'tánghúlu' (candied hawthorn) to stationery. Therefore, '放学' isn't just a time; it's a specific social environment characterized by transition, energy, and the shift from collective discipline to individual or family life.

Grammatical Flexibility: Because it is a 'separable verb' (离合词), you can insert markers like '了' (le) or '后' (hòu) between the two characters, such as '放了学' (after school has finished) or '放学后' (after school). This flexibility is key to sounding natural.

Using 放学 correctly requires understanding its role as an intransitive verb-object compound. In English, we often say 'I leave school' or 'I finish school,' but in Chinese, the 'school' (学) is already built into the verb. This section explores the structural nuances of the word across different sentence types.

Basic Time Structures: The most common way to use '放学' is in a simple Subject + Time + Verb pattern. For example, '我五点放学' (I finish school at five). Here, '放学' acts as the terminal action of the day.

我的弟弟每天下午三点半放学。(My younger brother finishes school at 3:30 every afternoon.)

A crucial aspect of '放学' is how it interacts with aspect markers like '了' (le). When you want to say 'School is over' or 'I have finished school,' you add '了' at the end: '放学了!' This is a common shout heard in hallways. If you are describing a sequence of events, you might say '放了学以后' (After finishing school...), where the '了' is inserted between '放' and '学' because it is a separable verb.

Separable Verb Rules: As a separable verb (离合词), '放学' can be split. You can say '放完学' (finish school completely) or '放什么学？' (What 'finishing school' are you talking about? - often used in rhetorical or annoyed contexts). However, for beginners, using it as a fixed block is usually sufficient.

他放了学就去图书馆看书。(As soon as he finished school, he went to the library to read.)

In questions, '放学' is often paired with '几点' (what time) or '什么时候' (when). For example, '你们学校什么时候放学？' (When does your school let out?). This is a standard question for parents coordinating pickups. You can also use it in the negative: '今天不放学' (There is no school today/School doesn't let out today - perhaps due to an event), though '不上学' (not going to school) is more common for holidays.

Common Collocations: Commonly paired with '接' (jiē - to pick up). '我去接孩子放学' (I am going to pick up the kid from school). This highlights the action of the school day ending and the transition back to parental care.

老师说今天会晚一点放学。(The teacher said school will let out a bit later today.)

In the real world, 放学 is a word that rings through the air—literally and figuratively. If you are near a Chinese school around 4:00 PM, you will hear it everywhere. It’s part of the urban soundtrack of China.

At the School Gates: You will hear security guards or teachers shouting into megaphones: '一年级的小朋友放学了，请家长到这边等候' (The first-grade children have finished school, parents please wait over here). The word is the 'trigger' for the massive logistical operation of moving thousands of students out of a building and into the care of their families.

铃声响了，终于放学了！(The bell rang, school is finally over!)

On public transportation like the subway (地铁) or bus (公交车), you’ll see groups of students in matching track-suit style uniforms. If you overhear their conversations, '放学' is a frequent topic: '放学后我们去吃炸鸡吗？' (Shall we go eat fried chicken after school?). It marks the beginning of their social day.

In a professional context, if you work in education or a related field, you’ll hear '放学时间' (fàng xué shí jiān) discussed constantly. For example, a tutoring center (补习班) might say, '我们就在学校放学的时候去发传单' (We will go distribute flyers right when school lets out). It is a marker of peak human traffic.

News and Media: Traffic reports frequently mention '放学时段' (the school-release period) to warn drivers about congestion near school zones. Radio hosts might say, '现在正值放学高峰，请各位司机减速慢行' (It is currently the after-school peak, drivers please slow down).

校门口有很多接孩子放学的家长。(There are many parents at the school gate picking up their children after school.)

While 放学 seems straightforward, English speakers often make errors based on direct translation or a misunderstanding of Chinese verb types. Here are the most frequent pitfalls to avoid.

The 'Object' Error: The most common mistake is saying '放学学校' (fàng xué xué xiào). In English, we say 'finish school.' In Chinese, '学' (study/school) is already the object of the verb '放' (release). Adding '学校' (school) again is redundant and grammatically incorrect. You should just say '放学'.

❌ 我下午四点放学学校。(Incorrect)
✅ 我下午四点放学。(Correct)

Another frequent error is confusing '放学' with '下课' (xià kè). While they both mean 'class is over,' they are used differently. '下课' refers to a single lesson ending (e.g., math class is over, but history class is next). '放学' refers to the entire school day ending. If you say '放学' after your first period, people will think you are going home for the day!

Confusing with Work Terms: Students often use '下班' (xià bān - to finish work) for school or vice versa. '下班' is strictly for professional jobs. Students '放学,' workers '下班.' Using the wrong one sounds quite strange to native speakers.

The placement of '了' (le) can also be tricky. Because it is a separable verb, you can say '放了学' to indicate the completion of the school day before another action. However, beginners often say '放学了以后' (After school finished), which is okay, but '放了学以后' is more idiomatic in many regions. Avoid '放学以后了'—the '了' shouldn't go at the very end of that specific phrase.

❌ 他放学了去商店。(Awkward)
✅ 他放了学去商店。(Natural)

The 'When' vs 'How Long' Mistake: '放学' is an instantaneous action (the moment you are released). You cannot '放学' for three hours. You can 'be out of school' for three hours, but the verb '放学' itself doesn't take a duration. You can't say '我放学了三个小时' (I finished school for three hours).

To truly master 放学, you must know how it compares to its synonyms and related terms. Chinese has several ways to describe ending academic activities, each with a specific nuance.

下课 (xià kè) vs. 放学: 下课: Means 'class is over.' It refers to the end of a specific period or lecture. You can have '下课' ten times a day. 放学: Means the entire school day is over and you are going home. You usually only '放学' once a day.
离校 (lí xiào) vs. 放学: 离校: Means 'to leave the school grounds.' This is more formal and literal. You might '放学' at 4:00 but not '离校' until 5:00 because you were playing basketball. It is often used in official rules or for boarding students leaving for the weekend.

我们已经下课了，但还没放学。(Our class is over, but school isn't out for the day yet.)

In some southern dialects or older literature, you might encounter 散学 (sàn xué). This literally means 'to disperse from study.' While '放学' is the standard modern term, '散学' carries a slightly more traditional flavor and is still seen in the term '散学典礼' (sàn xué diǎn lǐ), which is the closing ceremony at the end of a school term.

Another related term is 放假 (fàng jià). As mentioned in the common mistakes section, this is for holidays. If '放学' is the daily release, '放假' is the seasonal release. There is also 毕业 (bì yè), which means 'to graduate'—the final 'releasing' from school forever!

Summary Table

放学: End of the school day (Daily).
下课: End of a single class (Hourly).
离校: Physically leaving campus (Formal).
放假: Starting a holiday (Occasional).
毕业: Completing a degree (Final).

暑假快到了，我们要放假了，不仅仅是放学。(Summer break is coming; we are going on holiday, not just finishing school for the day.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient China, students in private 'Sishu' schools were often 'released' based on the teacher's whim or when the sunlight faded, rather than a strict bell system.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fɑːŋ ʃwɛ/

US /fɑŋ ʃwɛ/

The primary stress is on the first syllable 'fàng', though in Chinese, both syllables carry their own tonal weight.

Rhymes With

唱 (chàng) 让 (ràng) 上 (shàng) 觉 (jué) 学 (xué) 绝 (jué) 却 (què) 雪 (xuě)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'xué' like 'shoe' - it should have a 'ü' sound, like the French 'u'.
Using the wrong tones (e.g., saying 'fāng xué' 1st tone), which can change the meaning.
Failing to aspirate the 'f' correctly.
Pronouncing 'x' as a hard 'z' sound.
Dropping the 'g' in 'fàng'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

The characters are simple and high-frequency.

Writing 2/5

The character '学' has many strokes but is learned very early.

Speaking 1/5

Commonly used and easy to integrate into basic sentences.

Listening 1/5

Very distinct sound, often shouted or announced clearly.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

学学校点我回

Learn Next

下课作业以后接补习班

Advanced

离校散学托管双减

Grammar to Know

Separable Verbs (离合词)

我放了学就走。(I'll leave as soon as school is over.)

Time Phrases as Adverbials

我[下午五点]放学。(I finish school [at 5 PM].)

Aspect Marker '了'

放学了！(School is over!)

Sequence with '以后'

放学以后去吃饭。(Go eat after school.)

Simultaneous Action '一边...一边'

一边放学一边听音乐。(Listen to music while leaving school.)

Examples by Level

我下午四点放学。

I finish school at 4 PM.

Subject + Time + 放学.

你几点放学？

What time do you finish school?

Question word '几点' goes before the verb.

放学了！

School is over!

'了' indicates a change of state.

老师，我们可以放学吗？

Teacher, can we finish school?

'可以' + verb for permission.

他今天不放学。

He doesn't finish school today (e.g., staying late).

Negative '不' before the verb.

放学以后我回家。

After school, I go home.

Verb + 以后 = After doing X.

我妈妈来接我放学。

My mom comes to pick me up from school.

接 + person + 放学 is a common pattern.

学校五点放学。

The school lets out at five.

The school itself can be the subject.

放学后，我们去商店买东西。

After school, we go to the store to buy things.

Using '后' instead of '以后' is more concise.

我常常在放学以后踢足球。

I often play soccer after school.

Frequency adverb '常常' before the verb.

妹妹放学了，她在等爸爸。

My younger sister finished school; she is waiting for Dad.

Two clauses showing sequence.

因为下雨，今天早点放学。

Because of the rain, school let out early today.

Cause and effect with '因为'.

放学的时候，校门口人很多。

When school lets out, there are many people at the gate.

...的时候 = When...

你放学以后想做什么？

What do you want to do after school?

Asking about plans.

老师还没说放学。

The teacher hasn't said school is over yet.

'还没' = not yet.

我们要放学了，快收拾书包。

We are about to finish school; pack your bags quickly.

'要...了' = about to happen.

我放了学就直接去补习班了。

As soon as I finished school, I went straight to the tutoring center.

Separated '放了学' showing completion.

放学路上，我看到了一只流浪猫。

On the way home from school, I saw a stray cat.

'放学路上' is a fixed expression for the commute home.

如果你放学晚了，记得给家里打个电话。

If you finish school late, remember to give home a call.

Conditional '如果...就/记得'.

现在的学生放学后作业非常多。

Students nowadays have a lot of homework after school.

Noun phrase '放学后作业'.

他每天放学都去图书馆学习两个小时。

Every day after school, he goes to the library to study for two hours.

Duration '两个小时' after the action.

周五放学的时候，大家都很兴奋。

When school lets out on Friday, everyone is very excited.

Setting the time context (Friday).

尽管放学了，他还是留在教室里问老师问题。

Even though school was over, he still stayed in the classroom to ask the teacher questions.

'尽管...还是' = Even though... still.

我帮老师整理完教室才放学。

I didn't finish school until I helped the teacher tidy up the classroom.

'才' indicates something happened later than expected.

为了减轻负担，教育局调整了小学的放学时间。

To reduce the burden, the Education Bureau adjusted the primary school dismissal times.

Formal purpose '为了'.

每到放学时段，校门口的交通就会变得非常拥堵。

Every time it's the school-release period, the traffic at the gate becomes very congested.

'每到...就...' = Every time X happens, Y follows.

很多家长认为放学太早会影响他们的工作。

Many parents believe that letting out of school too early will affect their work.

Complex object clause after '认为'.

学校提供了丰富的放学后托管服务。

The school provides abundant after-school childcare services.

Compound noun '放学后托管服务'.

他一边走在放学的路上，一边思考着那道数学题。

While walking home from school, he was thinking about that math problem.

Simultaneous actions '一边...一边'.

由于突发大雪，学校决定临时通知提前放学。

Due to a sudden heavy snow, the school decided to give a temporary notice for early dismissal.

Formal cause '由于'.

放学铃声对他来说，就像是自由的号角。

The school-release bell, to him, was like the trumpet of freedom.

Simile '就像...一样'.

我们要确保每一个孩子在放学后都能安全回家。

We must ensure that every child can return home safely after school.

Verb '确保' + clause.

放学后的校门口，汇集了各种社会关系的缩影。

The school gate after dismissal brings together a microcosm of various social relations.

Abstract noun '缩影' (microcosm).

尽管政策推行了，但放学后的‘隐形负担’依然存在。

Despite the policy implementation, the 'invisible burden' after school still exists.

Metaphorical use of '负担'.

他习惯于在放学后漫步在老城区，寻找创作灵感。

He is accustomed to wandering the old city after school, looking for creative inspiration.

'习惯于' + action.

这种‘延迟放学’的模式，在一定程度上缓解了家长的焦虑。

This 'delayed dismissal' model has, to some extent, alleviated parents' anxiety.

'在一定程度上' = to a certain extent.

放学不仅仅是物理空间的离开，更是心理压力的释放。

Finishing school is not just a departure from a physical space, but a release of psychological pressure.

'不仅仅是...更是...' = Not only... but more so...

在那个年代，放学后的时光总是充满了简单的快乐。

In those days, the time after school was always filled with simple joys.

Temporal phrase '在那个年代'.

我们需要重新审视放学后教育资源的公平分配问题。

We need to re-examine the issue of equitable distribution of educational resources after school.

Formal verb '审视'.

随着铃声响起，那种群体性的放学仪式感油然而生。

As the bell rings, that collective sense of the school-release ritual arises spontaneously.

Idiom '油然而生' (arising spontaneously).

放学这一日常行为，实则折射出当代中国家庭的教育焦虑与社会结构变迁。

The routine act of finishing school actually reflects the educational anxiety and social structural changes of contemporary Chinese families.

High-level verb '折射' (reflect/refract).

在文学作品中，‘放学’往往被赋予了告别童年或踏入社会的象征意义。

In literary works, 'finishing school' is often endowed with the symbolic meaning of saying goodbye to childhood or stepping into society.

Passive structure '被赋予'.

对于寄宿生而言，‘放学’的概念在某种程度上被模糊化了。

For boarding students, the concept of 'finishing school' has been blurred to some extent.

Abstract concept '模糊化' (blurring).

研究表明，放学后的自主时间对于青少年人格的完善至关重要。

Research indicates that autonomous time after school is crucial for the perfection of adolescent personality.

Formal phrase '至关重要' (crucial).

即便是在数字化办公普及的今天，传统的放学时间依然制约着城市交通的脉搏。

Even today, with the popularization of digital offices, traditional school-release times still constrain the pulse of urban traffic.

Concessive '即便...依然'.

那种放学后在夕阳下奔跑的画面，构成了几代人共同的集体记忆。

That image of running in the sunset after school constitutes the collective memory of several generations.

Subject as a whole clause.

教育改革的深水区，往往触及到如何科学界定‘放学’后的学生权益。

The 'deep-water zone' of educational reform often touches upon how to scientifically define students' rights after school.

Metaphorical '深水区'.

当最后一名学生离校，‘放学’这一动词才算真正完成了它的当日使命。

When the last student leaves campus, the verb 'finishing school' can be said to have truly completed its mission for the day.

Personification of the verb '使命'.

Common Collocations

准时放学

提前放学

推迟放学

接孩子放学

放学铃声

放学高峰

放学路上

放学时间

放学后

刚放学

Common Phrases

放学了

— School is over. Used as an announcement.

放学了！快跑！(School's out! Run!)

放学回家

— To go home after school. The most common daily routine description.

我每天放学回家先吃饭。(I eat first every day when I get home after school.)

接送放学

— The act of picking up and dropping off for school dismissal.

爷爷负责接送我放学。(Grandpa is responsible for picking me up from school.)

放学以后见

— See you after school. A common way to make plans with friends.

校门口放学以后见。(See you at the school gate after school.)

还没放学

— Not yet finished with school. Used to explain why someone isn't home.

他还没放学，还在学校呢。(He hasn't finished school yet; he's still at school.)

放学晚了

— To be late finishing school (usually due to a teacher or activity).

今天放学晚了半个小时。(School let out half an hour late today.)

放学别走

— Don't leave after school. Often used in a joking or threatening way (e.g., for a fight or a talk).

你放学别走，我有事找你。(Don't leave after school; I have something to discuss with you.)

放学大军

— The 'army' of students leaving school. Describes the massive crowd.

我被困在放学大军中了。(I'm stuck in the crowd of students leaving school.)

放学点

— The specific time or location of school dismissal.

我们在放学点集合。(We meet at the dismissal point.)

放学生活

— Life after school. Refers to hobbies or activities.

他的放学生活非常丰富。(His after-school life is very rich.)

Often Confused With

放学 vs 下课

English speakers often use '下课' (end of a single class) when they mean '放学' (end of the day).

放学 vs 下班

Students sometimes say '下班' (finish work), which is only for professional employees.

放学 vs 放假

Confused because both start with '放', but '放假' is for long breaks/holidays.

Idioms & Expressions

"逃学"

— To skip school/play truant. Related to the '学' context.

他因为逃学被老师批评了。(He was criticized by the teacher for skipping school.)

Informal

"废寝忘食"

— To forget to eat and sleep due to hard study. Often contrasted with the relief of '放学'.

他学习起来废寝忘食。(He studies so hard he forgets to eat and sleep.)

Literary

"青青校树"

— Green school trees. A nostalgic reference to school days and leaving school.

青青校树，是我们放学时的背景。(Green school trees were the backdrop when we finished school.)

Poetic

"十年寒窗"

— Ten years of hard study at a cold window. Refers to the long journey before graduating.

经过十年寒窗，他终于毕业了。(After ten years of hard study, he finally graduated.)

Literary

"学无止境"

— Learning has no limit. Even after '放学', one should keep learning.

虽然放学了，但学无止境。(Although school is over for the day, learning has no limit.)

Formal

"如释重负"

— As if a heavy burden has been lifted. How students feel at '放学'.

听到放学铃声，他如释重负。(Hearing the school bell, he felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.)

Neutral

"走马观花"

— Looking at flowers while riding a horse. Doing things quickly after school.

他放学后走马观花地看了看书。(He glanced at the books quickly after school.)

Neutral

"朝思暮想"

— To long for something day and night. Like students longing for '放学'.

他对他放学后的游戏时间朝思暮想。(He longs for his after-school gaming time day and night.)

Literary

"循序渐进"

— To follow in order and advance step by step. A philosophy of school days.

学习要循序渐进，不能只想着放学。(Learning should be step-by-step; you can't just think about finishing school.)

Formal

"一日千里"

— Advancing at a tremendous pace. Hoping students improve quickly between '上学' and '放学'.

他的进步一日千里。(His progress is advancing at a tremendous pace.)

Literary

Easily Confused

放学 vs 下课

Both mean classes are ending.

下课 is for one lesson; 放学 is for the whole day. You can have many 下课s but only one 放学.

下课后有十分钟休息，但要到五点才放学。

放学 vs 离校

Both involve leaving school.

离校 is formal and physical (leaving the grounds); 放学 is the general action of finishing the day.

放学后，学生们陆续离校。

放学 vs 放假

Both mean 'no more school' for a while.

放假 is for holidays (days, weeks); 放学 is for the end of the day.

明天放假，所以今天放学很早。

放学 vs 结课

Both mean 'finishing'.

结课 is for completing a whole course (e.g., end of the semester); 放学 is daily.

这门课结课了，以后放学可以早点回家。

放学 vs 下班

Translation of 'getting off'.

下班 is for jobs/work; 放学 is for school.

爸爸下班的时候，我也正好放学。

Sentence Patterns

Subject + Time + 放学。

我四点放学。

放学了！

放学了，我们回家吧。

放学以后 + Action。

放学以后我去图书馆。

接 + Person + 放学。

爸爸来接我放学。

放了学 + 就 + Action。

放了学我就去打球。

在放学路上的 + Noun。

在放学路上的小店买笔。

由于...提前/延迟放学。

由于大雨，学校提前放学。

放学不仅仅是...更是...。

放学不仅仅是结束，更是开始。

Word Family

Nouns

学校 (xuéxiào - school)

学生 (xuésheng - student)

学费 (xuéfèi - tuition)

学期 (xuéqī - semester)

Verbs

学习 (xuéxí - to study)

放假 (fàngjià - to have a holiday)

放心 (fàngxīn - to be at ease)

放置 (fàngzhì - to place)

Adjectives

好学 (hàoxué - studious)

博学 (bóxué - learned)

下课

上学

老师

教室

作业

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily life and educational settings.

Common Mistakes

Using '放学' with an object like '学校'. → 我放学了。
放学 is a verb-object compound. The '学' is the object. Adding '学校' is like saying 'finish school school'.
Confusing '放学' with '下课'. → 这一节课下课了，但还没放学。
下课 is for one class; 放学 is for the whole day. Using '放学' for a 10-minute break is incorrect.
Confusing '放学' with '下班'. → 学生放学，爸爸下班。
下班 is only for jobs. Students always use 放学.
Incorrect placement of aspect marker '了'. → 放了学以后...
In sequence sentences, '了' should go between '放' and '学'. Saying '放学了以后' is acceptable but less idiomatic than '放了学以后'.
Confusing '放学' with '放假'. → 明天是周末，我们放假。
放假 is for holidays; 放学 is daily. Saying '明天放学' to mean 'tomorrow is a holiday' is wrong.

Tips

Separable Verb Mastery

Treat '放学' like 'finish-school'. Since 'school' is already there, don't add another one. If you want to say 'after finishing school', '放了学' is your best friend.

Don't Confuse with Work

Even if you treat school like a job, never use '下班' (finish work) for school. Use '放学' for the academic setting to sound natural.

The School Gate Scene

In China, '放学' is synonymous with the '校门口' (school gate) scene. Visualizing the crowd of parents and snack vendors helps you remember the word's importance.

Listen for the Bell

In many listening exercises, the sound of a bell (铃声) is a direct cue that '放学' is about to be mentioned.

Tone Accuracy

Ensure 'fàng' is a sharp falling tone. If you use a rising tone, it sounds like 'fang', which means 'house' or 'prevention' in different contexts.

Time Placement

Always put the time *before* '放学'. '我四点放学', not '我放学四点'.

University Context

If you are a college student, use '没课了' instead of '放学' to sound more mature and accurate to university life.

Release the Learning

Literally translate it in your head: 'Release (放) the learning (学)'. It makes perfect sense for ending the day.

Making Plans

Use '放学以后' as a standard opener for hanging out. '放学以后去打游戏吗？'

Traffic Signs

Look for signs near schools in China; they often mention '放学' to warn drivers about kids on the road.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Fang' as 'Flinging' the doors open and 'Xue' as 'School'. You 'Fling open the School' doors to go home!

Visual Association

Imagine a big school bell ringing and a flood of students in blue and white uniforms pouring out of a gate.

Word Web

上学 (Go to school) 放学 (Finish school) 下课 (Class ends) 放假 (Holiday) 回家 (Go home) 接孩子 (Pick up child) 校门口 (School gate) 作业 (Homework)

Challenge

Try to use '放学' in three different sentences today: one about time, one about 'after school', and one about 'picking someone up'.

Word Origin

The term is a compound of '放' (to release) and '学' (to study/school). '放' depicts a hand holding a stick, originally meaning to drive away or release. '学' depicts a child under a roof, symbolizing education.

Original meaning: To release the students from their studies for the day.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese)

Cultural Context

Be aware that for some students, '放学' doesn't mean freedom but rather the start of several hours of extra tutoring.

In the West, 'school is out' or 'finishing school' is similar, but the intense 'gate culture' with vendors is less common than in China.

The song 'Children's Song of Finishing School' (放学歌). Various 'Youth' genre films like 'Better Days' (少年的你) featuring school gate scenes. Anime/Manga often use the 'after school' (放课后) trope, which is the Japanese equivalent.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Daily Schedule

我四点放学。
你什么时候放学？
今天早放学。
放学以后去哪？

Parenting

接孩子放学。
别忘了放学时间。
放学回家先写作业。
老师还没放学。

Traffic/Commute

放学高峰期。
放学路上很挤。
避开学校放学时间。
校门口堵车。

Making Plans

放学以后见。
放学去打球吗？
我们放学一起走。
放学后给我打电话。

School Rules

准时放学。
不能提前放学。
放学后不能留校。
值日生晚点放学。

Conversation Starters

"你通常几点放学？我想去找你。"

"你们学校放学后有社团活动吗？"

"放学的时候，校门口有什么好吃的零食？"

"你放学以后是直接回家，还是去别的地方？"

"如果今天提前放学，你最想去做什么？"

Journal Prompts

描述一下你放学后的典型例行公事。你回家后做的第一件事是什么？

如果你可以决定学校的放学时间，你会定在几点？为什么？

写一段关于你在放学路上看到的有趣的事情。

你更喜欢‘上学’还是‘放学’？请解释你的理由。

描述一下你记忆中童年时代的放学场景。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. In Chinese, '放学' is a verb-object compound where '学' (school/study) is already the object. Adding '学校' (school) is redundant. Just say '我放学了'.

'下课' means a single class session is over. '放学' means the entire school day is finished and students are going home. If you say '放学' after your first period, people will think you are leaving for the day.

Rarely. University students usually have fragmented schedules, so they prefer to say '没课了' (I have no more classes) or '回宿舍' (going back to the dorm). '放学' sounds more like primary or high school.

The most common way is '放学以后' (fàng xué yǐ hòu) or simply '放学后' (fàng xué hòu).

It is primarily a verb, but it can be used in noun phrases like '放学时间' (dismissal time) or '放学高峰' (after-school rush).

Historically and culturally, it implies 'releasing' students from the strict discipline and supervision of the school environment back into their family or individual lives.

Use the verb '接' (jiē). The pattern is '接 [person] 放学'. Example: '我接妹妹放学' (I pick up my sister from school).

Yes. '放学了' means 'School is over.' '放了学' means 'Having finished school' (showing completion before another action).

It means 'early dismissal.' This usually happens on exam days, during bad weather, or for special school events.

It is neutral and used in both daily speech and general writing. For very formal administrative contexts, '离校' might be used.