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B1 noun #4,300 most common 10 min read

学费

xuefei Top 4,300

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 学费 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 学费 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 学费 (xuéfèi) means 'school money' or 'tuition.' It is a basic noun used to describe the money you pay to go to school. You will likely use it with very simple verbs like 交 (jiāo - to pay/give) and adjectives like 贵 (guì - expensive) or 便宜 (piányi - cheap). At this stage, don't worry about complex grammar. Just remember that 'xué' is for school and 'fèi' is for fee. For example, if you want to say 'My tuition is expensive,' you say '我的学费很贵' (Wǒ de xuéfèi hěn guì). You might also hear your teacher say '交学费' (jiāo xuéfèi) when it is time to pay for your Chinese lessons. Focus on recognizing the word in simple sentences about school life and understanding that it refers specifically to the money paid for the classes themselves, not for books or food.

At the A2 level, you should start using 学费 (xuéfèi) in more complete sentences and understand its role in basic school administration. You should be able to ask questions about tuition, such as '学费是多少？' (How much is the tuition?) or '什么时候交学费？' (When do we pay tuition?). You will also learn to use the word with more specific time phrases, such as '这学期的学费' (this semester's tuition) or '每年的学费' (annual tuition). At this level, you might also encounter related words like 奖学金 (jiǎngxuéjīn - scholarship), which is money that helps you pay your 学费. You should understand that 学费 is a noun and can be the object of a sentence. For example: '我下个星期去交学费' (I am going to pay tuition next week). Your goal at A2 is to handle basic transactions and conversations regarding school costs.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 学费 (xuéfèi) in more complex discussions about education and finance. You should be familiar with the formal verb 缴纳 (jiǎonà), which is often used in official documents instead of the informal 交 (jiāo). You should also be able to discuss the concept of 学费减免 (xuéfèi jiǎnmiǎn - tuition reduction or waiver) and 助学贷款 (zhùxué dàikuǎn - student loans). This is also the stage where you should learn the metaphorical use of the word: '交学费' to mean learning from a mistake or failure. For instance, '这次投资失败了，就当是交学费了' (This investment failed; just consider it paying tuition). You should be comfortable reading short news articles about rising tuition costs and participating in debates about whether university education should be free. You can now use 学费 to describe broader societal trends and personal financial planning.

At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 学费 (xuéfèi) within the context of the Chinese education system and economy. You should be able to distinguish 学费 from 杂费 (záfèi - miscellaneous fees), 课时费 (kèshífèi - per-lesson fees), and 培训费 (péixùnfèi - training fees). You should be capable of discussing the 'return on investment' of high tuition in prestigious schools using terms like 教育投资 (jiàoyù tóuzī). In writing, you can use 学费 as a subject in complex sentences with passive structures or relative clauses. For example: '学费的高低往往反映了学校的教学资源配置' (The level of tuition often reflects the allocation of teaching resources in a school). You should also be able to understand and use academic or formal collocations such as 筹措学费 (chóucuò xuéfèi - to raise tuition funds) or 拖欠学费 (tuōqiàn xuéfèi - to be in arrears with tuition). Your comprehension should extend to listening to lectures or podcasts about the socioeconomic impact of tuition hikes.

At the C1 level, your use of 学费 (xuéfèi) should be indistinguishable from a native speaker's in professional and academic contexts. You can analyze the word's role in public policy, such as the 'Compulsory Education' (义务教育) policy in China where 学费 is waived for the first nine years of schooling. You should be able to write essays or reports discussing the 'commodification of education' (教育商品化) and how 学费 structures affect educational equity (教育公平). You should also be fluent in the metaphorical use of '学费' in various registers, including high-level business negotiations or literary contexts. You can understand subtle puns or wordplay involving the characters '学' and '费' in social commentary. Furthermore, you should be able to discuss the historical evolution of tuition in China, from the traditional 'Shuxiu' (束脩 - gifts of dried meat to teachers) to modern credit-based tuition systems.

At the C2 level, you possess a masterly command of 学费 (xuéfèi) and its place in the linguistic and cultural landscape. You can engage in deep philosophical discussions about the value of knowledge versus the cost of tuition. You can interpret and produce complex legal or economic texts where 学费 is a central variable in financial modeling or legislative reform. You are aware of regional variations in how tuition is discussed across the Sinosphere (Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore) and can adapt your terminology accordingly. You can use the term in sophisticated rhetoric, perhaps using the concept of 'paying tuition' to life as a metaphor for the human condition in a speech or publication. Your understanding is not just linguistic but deeply cultural, recognizing how the word 学费 triggers specific emotional and social responses related to family duty, national development, and personal meritocracy.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

学费 in 30 Seconds

学费 (xuéfèi) means tuition or school fees, a essential noun for anyone discussing education costs in Chinese-speaking environments.
It is composed of '学' (study) and '费' (fee), reflecting the direct cost of instruction and teaching services.
The word is commonly used with the verb '交' (jiāo) for paying and '减免' (jiǎnmiǎn) for fee reductions.
Metaphorically, '交学费' refers to learning a hard lesson from a mistake or financial loss in business or life.

The term 学费 (xuéfèi) is a fundamental noun in the Chinese language that translates directly to 'tuition' or 'school fees.' It is composed of two distinct characters: 学 (xué), meaning to study, learn, or school, and 费 (fèi), meaning fee, cost, or expense. Together, they represent the financial investment required to receive formal education. In Chinese culture, where education is often viewed as the single most important path to social mobility and personal success, this word carries significant weight and is a frequent topic of discussion among parents, students, and policymakers alike.

Core Concept: The literal payment made for instruction at an educational institution, ranging from kindergartens to universities.

Beyond its literal meaning, 学费 is often used in a metaphorical sense. In business or life, when someone makes a costly mistake but learns a valuable lesson from it, they might say they are 'paying tuition' (交学费). This implies that the loss of money or time was not a total waste, but rather the price of an education in the 'school of hard knocks.' This metaphorical usage is extremely common in professional circles and among entrepreneurs who have faced early failures.

这学期的学费涨了百分之十。 (The tuition for this semester has increased by ten percent.)

Cultural Context: In China, the burden of paying tuition often falls heavily on parents, who may save for decades to ensure their children can attend prestigious universities or study abroad.

You will encounter this word most frequently during the 'back-to-school' seasons in late August and February. It appears in official university documents, banking apps under the 'education payment' section, and in daily conversations about the rising cost of living. Whether you are talking about a private piano lesson fee or a four-year degree at a top-tier university, 学费 is the standard term to use.

如果你能拿到奖学金，就可以免交学费。 (If you can get a scholarship, you can be exempt from paying tuition.)

Common Collocations: Common verbs paired with this word include 缴纳 (jiǎonà - to pay formally), 筹措 (chóucuò - to raise/gather funds), and 减免 (jiǎnmiǎn - to reduce or waive).

他为了筹措大学学费，打了三份工。 (He worked three jobs to raise money for his university tuition.)

In summary, 学费 is more than just a financial term; it is a word that encapsulates the aspirations, sacrifices, and economic realities of education in the Chinese-speaking world. Understanding its nuances, from formal institutional payments to the wisdom gained through life's failures, is essential for any student of the language.

Using 学费 (xuéfèi) correctly requires understanding its role as a noun and the specific verbs that accompany it in different registers. While in English we 'pay tuition,' in Chinese, the choice of verb can change based on how formal the situation is. The most common verb is 交 (jiāo), which means to hand over or pay. This is used in everyday conversation, between friends, and by students.

Verb Pairing: 交 (jiāo): The most versatile and common verb. Example: 我还没交这学期的学费。 (I haven't paid this semester's tuition yet.)

For more formal contexts, such as university announcements, legal documents, or news reports, the verb 缴纳 (jiǎonà) is preferred. This verb specifically refers to paying taxes, fees, or dues to an authority. Using it makes your speech sound more professional and educated.

请所有新生在九月一日前缴纳学费。 (Please all new students pay the tuition before September 1st.)

When describing the cost itself, you can use adjectives like 昂贵 (ángguì - expensive), 高昂 (gāo'áng - high-cost), or 低廉 (dīlián - cheap/low). Because tuition is a fee, we often talk about it in terms of 'high' or 'low' rather than 'expensive' or 'cheap,' although '贵' (guì) is perfectly acceptable in casual speech.

Descriptive Patterns: [Institution] 的学费很 [Adjective]. Example: 这所私立学校的学费非常高昂。 (The tuition of this private school is very high.)

Another important structure involves the reduction or waiving of fees. The verb 减免 (jiǎnmiǎn) is a combination of 'reduce' and 'exempt.' This is often used when discussing financial aid or scholarships. You might also hear 全免 (quánmiǎn), meaning 'completely waived' or 'full scholarship.'

由于他成绩优异，学校决定给他减免学费。 (Due to his excellent grades, the school decided to reduce his tuition.)

Finally, consider the metaphorical use again. When someone says '就当是交学费了,' they are using a specific sentence pattern that translates to 'Just treat it as paying tuition.' This is a very natural way to express resilience after a financial loss or a failed project.

虽然这次生意亏了，但学到了很多，就当是交学费了。 (Although I lost money on this business deal, I learned a lot; just consider it paying tuition.)

Summary of Usage: Use '交' for everyday action, '缴纳' for formal requirements, and '减免' for financial aid. Remember the metaphorical 'learning from failure' context for advanced fluency.

The word 学费 (xuéfèi) is ubiquitous in any environment related to education, finance, or family life in China. If you are a student in China, you will hear it most frequently at the 财务处 (cáiwùchù - financial office) or from your 辅导员 (fǔdǎoyuán - counselor/advisor). At the start of every semester, the campus buzzes with reminders about deadlines for tuition payments.

Campus Life: In dormitories, students often discuss how to afford their 学费, whether through part-time jobs (兼职) or student loans (助学贷款).

In the media, 学费 is a hot topic during the 'Gaokao' (National College Entrance Exam) season. News outlets often report on the tuition rates of various universities, especially the difference between public universities (公立大学), which are heavily subsidized by the government and have lower tuition, and private universities (私立学校) or international programs, which can be extremely expensive.

新闻报道：今年多所高校宣布上调学费。 (News report: Multiple universities announced tuition hikes this year.)

Within families, the word is often linked to the concept of 教育投资 (jiàoyù tóuzī - investment in education). Chinese parents are known for their willingness to spend a large portion of their income on their children's 学费, including not just school, but also after-school tutoring (补习班) and extracurricular activities. You might overhear a parent saying, '只要孩子肯学，多贵的学费我们也交' (As long as the child is willing to learn, we will pay no matter how expensive the tuition is).

In the professional world, specifically in the stock market or real estate sectors, you will hear the metaphorical use. When a novice investor loses money on a bad trade, their mentor might console them by saying, '这是你进场交的第一笔学费' (This is the first bit of tuition you've paid since entering the market). This usage reframes a financial loss as an educational expense, which is a key psychological coping mechanism in Chinese business culture.

老王说：“在股市里，谁没交过点学费呢？” (Old Wang said, 'In the stock market, who hasn't paid a little tuition?')

Digital Context: On apps like WeChat or Alipay, you will see a '学费' icon in the 'Life Services' section, allowing parents to pay directly to schools.

By paying attention to these different contexts, you will see that 学费 is not just a line item on a budget, but a word that touches upon the deepest values and anxieties of modern Chinese society.

When learning 学费 (xuéfèi), English speakers often encounter a few common pitfalls. The first is confusing '学费' with other types of educational costs. In English, we might loosely use 'school fees' to cover everything, but in Chinese, 学费 specifically refers to the cost of instruction. It does not typically include 住宿费 (zhùsùfèi - accommodation fees), 伙食费 (huǒshífèi - meal costs), or 杂费 (záfèi - miscellaneous fees).

Mistake 1: Over-generalization: Incorrect: 我的学费包括了吃饭。 (My tuition includes eating.) Correct: 我的学费不包括伙食费。 (My tuition does not include meal fees.)

Another common error is the choice of verb. While '支付' (zhīfù) is a direct translation of 'to pay,' it sounds a bit like 'payment' in a commercial transaction (like buying a shirt). For school, '交' (jiāo) is much more natural for students. Using '支付' isn't grammatically wrong, but it lacks the 'handing over to an institution' feel that '交' provides.

错误：我昨天支付了学费。 (I paid tuition yesterday - sounds a bit stiff.) 正确：我昨天把学费交了。 (I handed in the tuition yesterday - much more natural.)

A subtle but frequent mistake involves the measure word. Beginners often try to use '个' (gè) for everything. However, '学费' as a sum of money should be paired with 笔 (bǐ). If you are talking about the tuition for one person, you don't really need a measure word, but if you are talking about the total amount, '这笔学费' is the way to go.

Finally, learners sometimes confuse 学费 with 学分 (xuéfēn - course credits). While they sound similar, they are entirely different concepts. You pay 学费 to earn 学分. In some universities, the amount of 学费 you pay is actually calculated based on the number of 学分 you take, which adds to the confusion.

Mistake Summary Table: 1. Confusing with meal/housing fees. 2. Using '支付' instead of '交'. 3. Using '个' instead of '笔'. 4. Confusing 'fèi' (fee) with 'fēn' (credit).

To avoid these mistakes, think of 学费 as a specific bill for the teaching itself, and always remember the phrase '交学费' as a single unit of meaning.

While 学费 (xuéfèi) is the general term for tuition, several other words describe educational costs in more specific contexts. Understanding these differences will help you navigate administrative tasks and social conversations more effectively.

1. 培训费 (péixùnfèi): This refers to 'training fees.' Use this for short-term vocational courses, corporate training, or specialized workshops (like a coding bootcamp or a management seminar) rather than a full degree program.

In contrast, 课时费 (kèshífèi) refers to the 'per-hour' or 'per-lesson' fee. This is very common when talking about private tutors, music lessons, or sports coaching where you pay for each individual session.

他的钢琴课课时费是每小时三百元。 (His piano lesson fee is 300 yuan per hour.)

2. 杂费 (záfèi): This translates to 'miscellaneous fees.' In Chinese public schools, '学费' might be waived, but parents still have to pay '书本费' (book fees) and '杂费' for things like school uniforms, materials, and maintenance.

When talking about the total cost of education including living expenses, you should use 教育开支 (jiàoyù kāizhī) or 教育成本 (jiàoyù chéngběn). These are broader terms used in economic discussions or when planning a family budget.

3. 报名费 (bàomíngfèi): This is the 'registration fee' or 'application fee.' It is a one-time payment made when you apply for a school or an exam (like the HSK), distinct from the ongoing tuition.

Finally, there is 资助 (zīzhù) or 补助 (bǔzhù), which are the opposites of fees—they are subsidies or financial aid provided to help cover the 学费. Using these terms correctly shows a high level of linguistic precision.

除了免除学费，政府还提供生活补助。 (In addition to waiving tuition, the government also provides living subsidies.)

By choosing the right term—whether it's the specific '课时费' for your tutor or the broad '教育开支' for your financial planning—you will communicate your meaning much more clearly to native speakers.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient China, students didn't pay '学费' in cash. They gave '束脩' (shùxiū), which was ten strips of dried meat. This was the traditional 'tuition' for Confucius!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʃwɛ feɪ/

US /ʃwɛ feɪ/

The stress is balanced, but the fourth tone on 'fèi' often makes it sound more emphasized.

Rhymes With

对 (duì) 贵 (guì) 累 (lèi) 退 (tuì) 背 (bèi) 味 (wèi) 会 (huì) 内 (nèi)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'fèi' with a flat first tone (fēi), making it sound like 'fly'.
Confusing the 'x' sound in 'xué' with a hard 'sh' sound.
Mispronouncing 'xué' as 'xuè' (falling tone), which means 'blood'.
Swapping the tones: xuèfēi instead of xuéfèi.
Dropping the 'u' sound in 'xué', making it sound like 'xé'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are common and easily recognized by B1 students.

Writing 3/5

Writing '费' can be tricky for beginners due to the number of strokes.

Speaking 2/5

Tones are straightforward (2nd and 4th).

Listening 2/5

Distinctive sound, unlikely to be confused with other common words.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

学校钱学习老师贵

Learn Next

奖学金贷款生活费杂费注册

Advanced

财政拨款教育公平束脩变现筹措

Grammar to Know

The use of '了' for completed payment.

我交了学费。

The '对...来说' structure for discussing impact.

学费对他来说太贵了。

The '就当是...' structure for metaphorical use.

就当是交学费了。

Adjectives modifying nouns with '的'.

高昂的学费。

Question word '多少' for price.

学费多少钱？

Examples by Level

学费很贵。

The tuition is very expensive.

Subject + Adjective structure.

我要交学费。

I need to pay tuition.

Verb '交' (to pay/hand over).

学费是多少？

How much is the tuition?

Question with '是多少'.

这里学费便宜。

The tuition here is cheap.

Adjective '便宜' (cheap).

他没交学费。

He didn't pay the tuition.

Negative '没' (didn't).

我的学费。

My tuition.

Possessive '的'.

学校的学费。

The school's tuition.

Noun phrase.

交学费了吗？

Have you paid the tuition?

Past action particle '了' in a question.

这学期的学费涨了。

This semester's tuition has increased.

Verb '涨' (to rise/increase).

我可以用信用卡交学费吗？

Can I use a credit card to pay tuition?

Using '可以用...吗' for permission.

他的学费是他父母给的。

His tuition was given by his parents.

Emphasis structure '是...的'.

你需要先交报名费，再交学费。

You need to pay the registration fee first, then the tuition.

Sequence '先...再...'.

我正在为我的学费攒钱。

I am saving money for my tuition.

Present continuous '正在'.

私立学校的学费通常很高。

Tuition at private schools is usually very high.

Adverb '通常' (usually).

请问在哪里交学费？

Excuse me, where do I pay the tuition?

Asking location with '在哪里'.

这笔学费包括书本费吗？

Does this tuition fee include book fees?

Verb '包括' (to include).

如果我申请到奖学金，学费就能减免一部分。

If I get a scholarship, the tuition can be partially reduced.

Conditional '如果...就...'.

虽然学费很贵，但我觉得教育很重要。

Although tuition is expensive, I think education is important.

Concession '虽然...但...'.

他通过勤工俭学来支付大学学费。

He pays his university tuition through a work-study program.

Method '通过...来...'.

就当是交学费了，下次小心点。

Just consider it paying tuition (learning a lesson); be careful next time.

Metaphorical use of '交学费'.

政府决定为贫困学生免除学费。

The government decided to waive tuition for students in poverty.

Verb '免除' (to waive/exempt).

你这学期的学费一共是多少钱？

How much is your tuition in total this semester?

Adverb '一共' (in total).

由于没交学费，他不能参加考试。

Because he didn't pay tuition, he cannot take the exam.

Cause and effect '由于...不能...'.

这笔学费对他家来说是一笔巨大的开支。

This tuition fee is a huge expense for his family.

Structure '对...来说' (for...).

随着物价上涨，各高校的学费也水涨船高。

As prices rise, tuition at various universities has also increased accordingly.

Idiom '水涨船高' (rising with the tide).

学校提供了学费分期付款的选择。

The school offers a tuition installment payment option.

Noun phrase '分期付款' (installment payment).

我们需要重新评估这所大学的高昂学费是否物有所值。

We need to re-evaluate whether this university's high tuition is worth the money.

Verb '重新评估' and idiom '物有所值'.

为了筹措女儿出国留学的学费，老王卖掉了家里的老房子。

In order to raise the tuition for his daughter to study abroad, Old Wang sold the family's old house.

Purpose '为了...筹措...'.

该项目的学费按学分计算，每学分一千元。

The tuition for this program is calculated by credit, 1000 yuan per credit.

Structure '按...计算' (calculate according to...).

许多学生因为无法负担高额学费而选择了辍学。

Many students chose to drop out because they could not afford the high tuition.

Result '因为...而...'.

校方宣布，下学年的学费将维持不变。

The school announced that next year's tuition will remain unchanged.

Formal phrase '维持不变'.

这笔学费已经由他的赞助人直接汇到了学校账户。

This tuition fee has already been wired directly to the school account by his sponsor.

Passive structure '由...汇到'.

学费的持续上涨引发了社会各界对教育公平的广泛关注。

The continuous rise in tuition has triggered widespread concern across society regarding educational equity.

Complex subject and object structure.

在这种高风险投资中，亏损被视为进入市场的“学费”。

In this kind of high-risk investment, losses are viewed as the 'tuition' for entering the market.

Metaphorical use in formal business context.

政府应当通过财政拨款来缓解高校学费上涨的压力。

The government should alleviate the pressure of rising university tuition through fiscal appropriations.

Formal vocabulary: '财政拨款' and '缓解'.

尽管获得了学费全免，他仍需面对高昂的生活成本。

Despite receiving a full tuition waiver, he still has to face high living costs.

Concession '尽管...仍需...'.

该奖学金旨在资助那些品学兼优但无力缴纳学费的学生。

The scholarship aims to support students who are excellent in both character and learning but cannot afford to pay tuition.

Formal idiom '品学兼优' and purpose '旨在'.

学费的高低与学校的声誉及教学质量往往存在一定的正相关关系。

There is often a positive correlation between the level of tuition and the school's reputation and teaching quality.

Academic structure '存在...关系'.

他将自己的失败归结为成长过程中必须缴纳的学费。

He attributed his failure to the tuition that must be paid during the growth process.

Formal verb '归结为' (attribute to).

在某些国家，义务教育阶段是免收学费和杂费的。

In some countries, tuition and miscellaneous fees are waived during the compulsory education stage.

Formal phrase '免收'.

教育商品化的趋势使得学费不仅是教学成本的补偿，更成了市场博弈的筹码。

The trend of educational commodification has turned tuition into not just compensation for teaching costs, but also a chip in market competition.

Sophisticated sociological analysis.

学费政策的微调往往牵动着成千上万家庭的神经。

Minor adjustments in tuition policy often affect the nerves of thousands of families.

Metaphorical verb '牵动...神经'.

我们应当辩证地看待学费与教育质量之间的逻辑关联。

We should look at the logical connection between tuition and education quality dialectically.

Academic adverb '辩证地' (dialectically).

在资源稀缺的背景下，学费成为了筛选受教群体的一种隐性门槛。

In the context of resource scarcity, tuition has become an implicit threshold for screening educated groups.

Sociological term '隐性门槛' (implicit threshold).

纵观历史，从束脩到现代学费的演变，反映了知识价值变现方式的更迭。

Throughout history, the evolution from 'Shuxiu' to modern tuition reflects the changes in the way the value of knowledge is realized.

Historical analysis and formal vocabulary.

学费的定价机制应当兼顾社会公平与教育事业的可持续发展。

The pricing mechanism for tuition should balance social equity and the sustainable development of education.

Policy-oriented language '兼顾'.

他这种以身试法的代价，远超任何名校的学费。

The price of his defiance of the law far exceeds the tuition of any prestigious school.

Rhetorical comparison.

学费豁免权的行使必须遵循严格的法律程序和透明的审核标准。

The exercise of the right to tuition exemption must follow strict legal procedures and transparent review standards.

Legalistic language '豁免权' and '遵循'.

Synonyms

学杂费教育费讲课费

Antonyms

奖学金助学金

Common Collocations

缴纳学费

交学费

学费昂贵

减免学费

学费标准

筹措学费

拖欠学费

学费涨价

免除学费

学费全免

Common Phrases

交学费

— To pay tuition; also used metaphorically to mean learning from a costly mistake.

这次亏损就当交学费了。

学费单

— Tuition bill or invoice.

我把学费单弄丢了。

一笔学费

— A sum of tuition money.

这是一笔不小的学费。

学费贷款

— Student loan for tuition.

我申请了学费贷款。

高额学费

— High tuition fees.

高额学费让很多家庭感到压力。

学费减免

— Tuition reduction or exemption.

符合条件的学生可以申请学费减免。

补习班学费

— Cram school or tutoring fees.

补习班学费越来越贵了。

免学费政策

— Free tuition policy.

政府推行了免学费政策。

分期交学费

— To pay tuition in installments.

学校允许分期交学费。

全额学费

— Full tuition.

他支付了全额学费。

Often Confused With

学费 vs 学分 (xuéfēn)

Confused because of the shared '学'. Xuéfēn means course credits, not money.

学费 vs 生活费 (shēnghuófèi)

Confused because both are school-related costs. Shēnghuófèi is for food/living, not instruction.

学费 vs 书本费 (shūběnfèi)

Specifically for textbooks, often separate from tuition.

Idioms & Expressions

"倾家荡产"

— To lose one's entire fortune; sometimes used to describe the extreme sacrifice parents make for tuition.

为了供他上学，父母几乎倾家荡产。

Literary

"望子成龙"

— Hoping one's son becomes a dragon (successful); the reason many pay high tuition.

父母望子成龙，所以愿意交昂贵的学费。

Common

"十年寒窗"

— Ten years of cold window (studying hard); the context of paying tuition for years.

十年的学费换来了今天的成就。

Literary

"因材施教"

— To teach according to the student's ability; often cited as a justification for private school tuition.

私立学校收费高，因为他们讲究因材施教。

Formal

"一字千金"

— One word is worth a thousand gold pieces; used metaphorically for high-quality instruction cost.

这位大师的课，学费真是一字千金。

Literary

"学而优则仕"

— He who excels in learning can become an official; the historical motivation for paying tuition.

自古以来，学而优则仕就是人们交学费的动力。

Archaic

"纸上谈兵"

— Military tactics on paper (empty talk); what happens if you pay tuition but don't practice.

只交学费不去实习，最后只能是纸上谈兵。

Common

"水涨船高"

— Rising with the tide; often used to describe tuition rising with inflation.

物价涨了，学费也跟着水涨船高。

Common

"入不敷出"

— Income not meeting expenses; common situation when tuition is too high.

高昂的学费让他家入不敷出。

Formal

"名副其实"

— Worthy of the name; used to describe tuition that is worth the quality of education.

这所名校的学费虽然贵，但是名副其实。

Formal

Easily Confused

学费 vs 杂费

Both are fees paid to schools.

学费 is for instruction; 杂费 is for miscellaneous items like materials or uniforms.

学费五千，杂费两百。

学费 vs 培训费

Both involve paying for learning.

培训费 is for short-term skills; 学费 is for formal institutional education.

我交了三千元的英语培训费。

学费 vs 报名费

Both are paid before starting.

报名费 is a small one-time registration fee; 学费 is the large instructional cost.

报名费五十，学费五千。

学费 vs 课时费

Both are instructional costs.

课时费 is pay-per-hour; 学费 is usually per-semester or per-year.

家教的课时费是一百元一小时。

学费 vs 手续费

Both contain '费'.

手续费 is a service/processing fee (like a bank fee), unrelated to education.

汇款要收手续费。

Sentence Patterns

S + [交] + 学费

我交学费。

S + [把] + 学费 + [交了]

我把学费交了。

[由于]...[没交学费]...[所以]...

由于没交学费，所以他不能上课。

S + [通过]...[筹措学费]

他通过打工来筹措学费。

[就当是] + 交学费了

这次失败就当是交学费了。

[学费的定价机制] + V + ...

学费的定价机制应当透明。

S + [申请] + [学费减免]

我打算申请学费减免。

[这里的] + 学费 + [很] + Adj

这里的学费很贵。

Word Family

Nouns

学费

费用

费率

消费者

学分

学员

Verbs

花费

浪费

费劲

费心

Adjectives

费钱的

费力的

费时的

学校

学生

学习

经费

杂费

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in educational and financial contexts.

Common Mistakes

我的学费很贵钱。 → 我的学费很贵。
You don't need '钱' after '贵' because '贵' already implies high cost.
我支付学费了。 → 我交学费了。
'支付' is grammatically correct but sounds like a commercial transaction. '交' is the natural choice for school.
我要交学分。 → 我要交学费。
Confusing 'credits' (学分) with 'tuition' (学费). You earn credits, you pay tuition.
一个学费。 → 一笔学费。
The correct measure word for a sum of money or a fee is '笔' (bǐ), not '个' (gè).
学费包括了宿舍。 → 学费不包括住宿费。
'学费' only covers instruction. You must specify '住宿费' for the dorm.

Tips

Verb Choice

Always prefer '交' (jiāo) for daily use. It sounds much more like a native student.

Metaphorical use

Use '就当是交学费了' when a friend loses money to show empathy and wisdom.

Distinguish from Credits

Remember: You pay '费' (fèi - fee) to get '分' (fēn - points/credits).

Measure Word

Use '笔' (bǐ) for a sum of tuition. Example: '一笔昂贵的学费'.

Tone Focus

Focus on the sharp drop of the 4th tone in 'fèi' to hear it clearly in fast speech.

Sensitive Topic

Tuition is a serious topic for many Chinese families; discuss it with respect for their sacrifice.

Shell Radical

The bottom of '费' is '贝' (shell), which means money. This helps you remember it's a financial term.

Policy Terms

Learn '学费上调' (tuition hike) to understand news headlines about education.

X sound

The 'x' in 'xué' is made with the tongue behind the lower teeth. Don't round your lips like an English 'sh'.

Payment Portal

Look for the '学费' icon in Alipay/WeChat to see how real-world transactions are labeled.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a student (学) paying a fee (费) with a pile of shells (贝, the bottom part of 费). Study costs shells!

Visual Association

Picture a graduation cap (学) on top of a dollar sign ($) or a pile of money (费).

Word Web

University Money Scholarship Bill Class Teacher Loan Receipt

Challenge

Try to say '我交了三千块学费' (I paid 3000 yuan tuition) five times fast without messing up the tones!

Word Origin

The word is a modern compound of two ancient characters. '学' (xué) traces back to Oracle Bone Script depicting hands holding a child under a roof. '费' (fèi) consists of '弗' (phonetic) and '贝' (shell/money), indicating its financial nature.

Original meaning: The combination specifically emerged to denote the standardized monetary payment for institutional education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic.

Cultural Context

Be sensitive when discussing tuition with individuals from lower-income backgrounds, as it can be a source of significant financial stress.

In English-speaking countries, tuition is often associated with student debt, whereas in China, it is more commonly associated with family savings and parental sacrifice.

The movie 'Not One Less' (一个都不能少) depicts the struggle of a rural substitute teacher trying to get her students back to school, highlighting the impact of fees. The concept of 'Shuxiu' (dried meat) is mentioned in the Analects of Confucius. News reports on the 'Hukou' system often discuss the 'extra tuition' (借读费) migrant workers must pay for their children.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

University Admission

学费标准
缴纳时间
分期付款
退费规定

Family Budgeting

省吃俭用攒学费
学费太贵了
教育投资
孩子学费

Business Failure

就当交学费了
交了一大笔学费
学习经验
投资亏损

Government Policy

义务教育免学费
学费减免政策
助学贷款
教育经费

Private Tutoring

课时费
试听课学费
预付学费
退费

Conversation Starters

"你觉得现在的大学学费贵吗？ (Do you think current university tuition is expensive?)"

"在你的国家，学生需要自己交学费吗？ (In your country, do students need to pay tuition themselves?)"

"你有没有过“交学费”的惨痛经历？ (Have you ever had a painful 'paying tuition' experience/lesson?)"

"如果你拿到奖学金，你会怎么花省下来的学费？ (If you got a scholarship, how would you spend the saved tuition?)"

"你认为政府应该免除所有的大学学费吗？ (Do you think the government should waive all university tuition?)"

Journal Prompts

写一写你对高额学费的看法，它是否真的物有所值？ (Write about your views on high tuition; is it really worth it?)

描述一次你因为交学费而感到经济压力的经历。 (Describe an experience where you felt financial pressure because of tuition.)

如果教育是免费的，世界会发生什么变化？ (If education were free, what changes would happen in the world?)

分享一个你“交学费”学到的生活教训。 (Share a life lesson you learned by 'paying tuition'.)

谈谈你父母为了你的学费做出了哪些牺牲。 (Talk about what sacrifices your parents made for your tuition.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, '学费' specifically refers to the cost of instruction. Housing is called '住宿费' (zhùsùfèi). In some package deals, they might be billed together, but they are linguistically distinct.

Yes, but '课时费' (kèshífèi) is more common if you pay per lesson. If you pay a lump sum for a course, '学费' is appropriate.

No. Metaphorically, it means learning from a mistake. If you lose money in a scam, you can say you were 'paying tuition' to learn how to be more careful.

The most formal way is '缴纳学费' (jiǎonà xuéfèi). You will see this on official university websites and bank payment portals.

You say '学费减免' (xuéfèi jiǎnmiǎn) for a reduction or waiver, or '学费全免' (xuéfèi quánmiǎn) for a full waiver.

Yes, '学费' is standard across all Chinese-speaking regions, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

There isn't a direct opposite noun, but '奖学金' (scholarship) is the money that offsets the tuition.

No, it is strictly a noun. You must pair it with a verb like '交' or '付'.

Public university tuition is relatively low (subsidized), but private and international school tuition can be extremely high.

It is compulsory education (usually grades 1-9) where the government waives '学费'.