Jiaoshu is the standard, slightly informal way to say 'to teach' as a profession.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Refers to the profession of being a teacher.
- Used to describe working in an educational setting.
- Commonly used in daily conversations regarding career.
常见语境：在日常生活中，当人们询问某人的职业时，常用“你做什么工作？”来提问，回答可以是“我在学校教书”。这个词带有一种朴实、传统的职业色彩，常用于描述教师这一群体。
- 1近义词辨析：与“教学”相比，“教书”更口语化，侧重于职业本身；“教学”则更正式，侧重于教学方法和过程。与“教育”相比，“教育”的范围更广，不仅指传授知识，还包含思想品德的培养，而“教书”则相对聚焦于知识传授。
Examples
他在那所学校教书。
everydayHe teaches at that school.
她从事教书工作已有二十年。
formalShe has been in the teaching profession for twenty years.
你还在教书吗？
informalAre you still teaching?
教书育人是教师的神圣职责。
academicTeaching and educating people is the sacred duty of a teacher.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
教书生涯
teaching career
教书匠
humble way to refer to oneself as a teacher
以教书为业
to make teaching one's profession
Often Confused With
Teaching as a process or method. It is more abstract and formal than '教书'.
Means 'to study' or 'to read books'. It is the opposite perspective of '教书'.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Use '教书' to describe the general profession of a teacher. It is not used to describe the act of teaching a specific subject to someone in a single instance. Keep it simple and avoid adding objects like subjects or students directly after it.
Common Mistakes
Beginners often try to say '教书数学', which is incorrect. Always use '教' followed by the subject, e.g., '教数学'. Also, remember that '教书' is a verb-object construction, so it cannot take another object.
Tips
Focus on the profession
Use '教书' when you want to emphasize your job as a teacher. It is a very natural way to introduce your occupation.
Avoid object confusion
Do not put a specific subject directly after '教书'. Say '教数学' instead of '教书数学'.
Respect for teachers
In Chinese culture, the term '教书先生' carries a sense of respect. It reflects the traditional value placed on educators.
Word Origin
The word is a classic compound. '教' originates from the act of guiding, and '书' represents the classical texts that were the foundation of education in ancient China.
Cultural Context
In China, teachers are traditionally held in high esteem. The phrase '教书育人' highlights that the role of a teacher goes beyond just books; it involves shaping character.
Memory Tip
Think of '教' (teaching) + '书' (books). If you are teaching the books, you are a teacher by profession.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“教书”通常指职业，即以教书为生；“教学”则是指具体的教学活动或教学法，更具学术感。
不可以。应该说“我教数学”。“教书”后面通常不直接加具体的学科名称。
通常不行。如果涉及育人，中文通常会用“教书育人”这个成语，单用“教书”主要指知识传授。
它属于中性偏口语的词汇，在日常交流中非常普遍，但在非常正式的公文中，有时会使用“从教”或“担任教师”。
Test Yourself
他大学毕业后，回到家乡在小学___。
描述职业身份，应使用“教书”。
关于“教书”，以下哪项表述是正确的？
“教书”是动词，常用于描述在某地工作。
教书 / 他 / 十年 / 了 / 已经
时间状语“十年”通常放在动词“教书”之后。
Score: /3
Summary
Jiaoshu is the standard, slightly informal way to say 'to teach' as a profession.
- Refers to the profession of being a teacher.
- Used to describe working in an educational setting.
- Commonly used in daily conversations regarding career.
Focus on the profession
Use '教书' when you want to emphasize your job as a teacher. It is a very natural way to introduce your occupation.
Avoid object confusion
Do not put a specific subject directly after '教书'. Say '教数学' instead of '教书数学'.
Respect for teachers
In Chinese culture, the term '教书先生' carries a sense of respect. It reflects the traditional value placed on educators.
Examples
4 of 4他在那所学校教书。
He teaches at that school.
她从事教书工作已有二十年。
She has been in the teaching profession for twenty years.
你还在教书吗？
Are you still teaching?
教书育人是教师的神圣职责。
Teaching and educating people is the sacred duty of a teacher.
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This Word in Other Languages
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