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A1 verb 9 min de leitura

下课

xiake

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas 下课 em 30 segundos

Explicação 下课 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '下课' (xiàkè) is taught as a basic daily routine verb. Learners should focus on its primary meaning: 'to finish class.' At this stage, you simply need to know that it's the opposite of '上课' (to start class). You will use it to answer simple questions like 'When do you finish class?' (你几点下课？). The grammar is kept simple: Time + 下课. For example, '十点下课' (Finish class at 10). You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just treat it as a single block of meaning that helps you describe your school or study schedule. It is one of the first 50 verbs most students learn because it is essential for surviving a classroom environment. You will also hear your teacher say it at the end of every lesson, which helps reinforce the meaning through repetition.

At the A2 level, you begin to explore '下课' as a 'separable verb' (离合词). This means you start to see that it's made of two parts: '下' (verb) and '课' (object). You will learn to use the particle '了' (le) to indicate that a class has just finished: '下课了!' (Class is over!). You also learn to add '以后' (yǐhòu - after) to talk about what you do after class: '下课以后，我去吃饭' (After class, I go to eat). At A2, you should also be able to distinguish between '下课' (finishing one session) and '放学' (finishing the whole school day). You'll start to use it in slightly longer sentences, perhaps coordinating with friends: '我们下课以后在门口见' (Let's meet at the gate after class).

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By B1, you should be comfortable with the internal structure of '下课.' You will learn to insert specific subjects into the word. Instead of saying '下课数学,' you will correctly say '下数学课' (finish math class). You also start using resultative complements like '完' (wán - finish) to say '下完课' (having finished class). This level also introduces the use of '下课' in the context of duration, though it remains tricky. You might say '下了课就走' (leave as soon as class is over), where the first 'le' indicates the completion of the '下' action before the next action starts. You are expected to use '下课' in more complex narratives about your educational background or daily struggles with a busy schedule.

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At the B2 level, '下课' is used in more diverse contexts, including its idiomatic and slang meanings. You will encounter '下课' in news reports or sports commentary, where it means 'to be dismissed from a position' or 'to step down.' For example, '那个教练下课了' (That coach was fired). You will also handle more complex grammar involving the separable nature of the word, such as placing '过' (guò) or '了' (le) correctly: '我下过这门课了' (I have finished/taken this course before). You should be able to discuss the nuances between '下课,' '结课,' and '毕业' (graduation) with precision. Your understanding of the word now includes its sociolinguistic weight—how it signals the end of a formal duty.

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At the C1 level, you use '下课' with native-like flexibility. You understand the historical development of the term and its relation to other '下' verbs (like 下班 - off work, 下台 - step down from a stage/office). You can use it in formal writing or debates about education policy, such as discussing '课后服务' (after-school services) that happen after students '下课.' You are also sensitive to the tone; for instance, how a teacher saying '下课' with a certain inflection can signal either relief or frustration. You might use it metaphorically in literature or creative writing to signify the end of a 'lesson' in life. Your grasp of the separable verb syntax is perfect, allowing you to manipulate the word with various complements and modifiers without hesitation.

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At the C2 level, you possess a comprehensive understanding of '下课' across all registers. You can analyze its use in classical-style modern prose or academic papers on linguistics. You understand the subtle differences in how '下课' might be used in different Chinese-speaking regions (Mainland China vs. Taiwan vs. Singapore). You are aware of its historical precursors and how the modern school system's vocabulary was standardized in the early 20th century. In a professional or political context, you can use the 'dismissal' meaning of '下课' with the appropriate level of irony or gravity. You can also appreciate wordplay involving '下课' in puns or comedic performances (Xiangsheng). For you, '下课' is not just a vocabulary item but a cultural marker of the structured, academic-centric life in Chinese society.

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

下课 em 30 segundos

下课 (xiàkè) is the standard Chinese verb for finishing a class or lesson, used by students and teachers daily.
It is a separable verb, meaning its two characters can be split to include words like 'le' or specific subjects.
Beyond school, it is widely used as slang for being fired or resigning from a high-profile job like a coach.
It is the direct antonym of 上课 (shàngkè), which means to start or attend a class session.

The Chinese term 下课 (xiàkè) is one of the most fundamental verbs a beginner learner will encounter. At its core, it means 'to finish class' or 'to get out of class.' In the linguistic structure of Mandarin, it is a separable verb (离合词), consisting of the verb 下 (xià), which can mean 'to go down,' 'to exit,' or 'to finish,' and the noun 课 (kè), meaning 'class' or 'lesson.' This combination literally translates to 'off-classing' or 'finishing the lesson.' It is used daily by millions of students and teachers across the Sinophone world, from elementary schools to universities.

The Literal Meaning: The character '下' represents a downward motion or a conclusion of a state. In the context of school, it signifies the transition from an active state of learning to a state of rest or dismissal.
The Educational Context: Teachers use it to signal the end of a session, and students use it to coordinate their post-class activities, like grabbing lunch or heading home.
Modern Slang Usage: In contemporary Chinese media, especially in sports and politics, '下课' has evolved into a metaphor for being fired or forced to resign. If a soccer coach is underperforming, fans might chant '下课!' to demand their dismissal.

老师说：“今天我们就讲到这里，下课！”
— The teacher said: "We will stop here today, class is dismissed!"

Understanding '下课' requires more than just knowing the translation. You must understand the rhythm of the Chinese school day. Unlike some Western systems where classes might blend together, Chinese schools often have very distinct breaks (课间休息) marked by bells. '下课' is that definitive moment of release. It is also the counterpart to 上课 (shàngkè), which means 'to start class.' Together, they form the bookends of the academic experience.

我们三点半下课，然后去踢足球。
— We finish class at 3:30, then we go play soccer.

In a broader social sense, '下课' represents the relief of completing a duty. Whether you are a student waiting for the bell or a professional athlete facing a 'downfall,' the word carries a weight of finality and transition. In a classroom, it's often followed by a polite '谢谢老师' (Thank you, teacher) from the students, showing the Confucian respect for education that remains deeply embedded in the culture.

Using 下课 (xiàkè) correctly involves understanding its role as a verb-object compound. In English, we say 'I finish class,' but in Chinese, the 'class' part is already built-in. This means you have to be careful about where you place time durations and aspects like 'le' (了). This section will guide you through the syntactic nuances of this essential word.

Simple Present/Future: To state when a class usually ends or will end, place the time before the verb: '我们十二点下课' (We finish class at 12:00).
The Completed Action: Use '了' (le) after the verb or at the end of the sentence to show completion: '已经下课了' (Class has already finished).
Inserting Durations: If you want to say 'I have been out of class for ten minutes,' you insert the time between '下' and '课': '我下课十分钟了' (Wait, actually, usually you'd say '下课已经十分钟了' or '下了十分钟课').

你什么时候下课？我想请你喝咖啡。
— When do you finish class? I want to treat you to coffee.

Another important pattern is using 以后 (yǐhòu) or 之后 (zhīhòu). To say 'After class,' you say '下课以后.' This is a very common way to set the timeframe for subsequent activities. For example: '下课以后，我们要去图书馆' (After class, we are going to the library). You can also use the resultative complement 完 (wán) to emphasize finishing: '下完课我就给你打电话' (I'll call you as soon as I finish class).

老师，我们可以提前十分钟下课吗？
— Teacher, can we finish class ten minutes early?

In formal settings, such as a university syllabus, you might see '结课' (jiékè) for the end of a whole semester's course, but '下课' remains the universal term for the daily conclusion of a single lesson. Whether you are speaking to a classmate, a parent, or a colleague, '下课' is the natural, go-to verb for this specific daily transition.

The word 下课 (xiàkè) is ubiquitous in any Chinese-speaking educational environment. However, its reach extends beyond the classroom into media, sports, and even political discourse. Knowing where you'll hear it helps you grasp its cultural weight.

The School Campus: The most common place is, of course, a school. You'll hear the bell ring (铃声响了), followed by the teacher saying '下课.' In the hallways, students will ask each other '你什么时候下课?' to plan their lunch or study sessions.
Sports Stadiums: This is where it gets interesting. In Chinese football (soccer) culture, if a team is performing poorly, the crowd will shout '下课!' at the coach. This usage implies that the coach's 'lesson' or tenure is over and they should leave.
News Headlines: You might see headlines like '某某教练下课' (Coach So-and-so dismissed). It is a punchy, dramatic way to describe a professional termination.

球迷们在大声喊：“教练下课！”
— The fans are shouting loudly: "Coach, step down!"

In a digital context, students often use '下课' on social media platforms like WeChat or Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu). You'll see photos of sunset-lit campuses with the caption '终于下课了' (Finally finished class), capturing the universal feeling of relief after a long day of study. It’s a word that signals transition—from duty to freedom, from focus to relaxation.

Furthermore, in the 'cram school' (补习班) culture of East Asia, '下课' might happen very late at night. You'll hear parents talking outside training centers saying, '孩子们还没下课吗?' (Haven't the kids finished class yet?). This highlights the intensive nature of the Chinese education system where '下课' is a hard-earned moment of rest.

Even though 下课 (xiàkè) seems simple, its status as a separable verb (离合词) leads to several common pitfalls for English speakers. Because English uses 'finish' as a transitive verb that takes an object, learners often try to force Mandarin to follow the same logic. Here are the most frequent errors and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Adding a Direct Object: Incorrect: *我下课英语 (Wǒ xiàkè Yīngyǔ). Correct: 我下英语课 (Wǒ xià Yīngyǔ kè). The 'class' (课) is the object, so the specific subject must modify '课' by being placed before it.
Mistake 2: Misplacing Duration: Incorrect: *我下课了一个小时 (Wǒ xiàkè le yī gè xiǎoshí). Correct: 我下了一个小时的课 (Wǒ xià le yī gè xiǎoshí de kè). Duration must be placed between the verb (下) and the object (课).
Mistake 3: Confusing with 'Finish' in General: You cannot use '下课' to mean finishing a book or a meal. It is strictly for educational lessons. For other things, use '做完' (zuò wán) or '吃完' (chī wán).

错误：我下课了历史。
正确：我下了历史课。
— Avoid placing the subject after the whole word.

Another subtle mistake is the confusion between '下课' and '放学' (fàngxué). While '下课' means a specific class session has ended, '放学' means the entire school day is over and students are going home. If you just finished your first period math class, you '下课' but you don't '放学' yet. Using '放学' too early in the day will confuse native speakers.

Lastly, learners often forget to use '了' (le) when the class has just finished. Saying '我们下课' sounds like a general statement or a future intent. To say 'We are done now,' you must say '我们下课了.' The '了' signals the change in state from 'in class' to 'finished class.'

While 下课 (xiàkè) is the most common way to say 'finish class,' there are several other terms you might encounter depending on the context—whether it's the end of the day, the end of a semester, or a more formal academic setting.

放学 (fàngxué): Definition: To finish the whole school day.
Usage: Use this when you are leaving the school grounds for the day. '我下午五点放学' (I finish school at 5 PM).
结课 (jiékè): Definition: To conclude a whole course or semester.
Usage: Use this in university settings. '这门课下周结课' (This course finishes next week).
结束 (jiéshù): Definition: To end/finish (general).
Usage: A general verb. '会议结束了' (The meeting ended). You can say '课结束了,' but '下课了' is more natural for students.

对比：
1. 下课：一节课完了。
2. 放学：一天的课都完了。

There are also more specific terms like 停课 (tíngkè), which means classes are suspended (due to a holiday, typhoon, or strike), and 罢课 (bàkè), which refers to a student strike. For those in vocational training or short-term workshops, 结业 (jiéyè) is often used to describe completing the program and receiving a certificate.

In summary, choose '下课' for the 45-minute or 90-minute sessions that make up your day. Choose '放学' when the backpack is on and you're heading for the bus. Choose '结课' when the final exam is over and the semester is done. Understanding these distinctions will make your Chinese sound much more precise and native-like.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

In ancient China, there were no 'classes' in the modern sense. Students studied at private academies (Sishu) where the schedule was much more fluid. The word '下课' became standard only when Western-style hourly schedules were adopted.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ʃjɑː kʰɤ/

US /ʃjɑ kə/

Both syllables are stressed equally as they both carry the fourth (falling) tone.

Rima com

大 (dà) 骂 (mà) 怕 (pà) 乐 (lè) 热 (rè) 饿 (è) 色 (sè) 特 (tè)

Erros comuns

Pronouncing 'xià' like 'zee-ah'. It should be a soft 'sh' sound.
Pronouncing 'kè' like 'key'. It should be an 'uh' sound.
Using rising tones instead of falling tones.
Mumbling the 'i' in 'xià'. It should be a clear glide.
Failing to aspirate the 'k' in 'kè'.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 1/5

The characters are simple and frequently encountered in early lessons.

Escrita 2/5

Writing '课' requires some stroke order practice (10 strokes).

Expressão oral 2/5

Requires mastering two fourth tones in a row, which can be tiring for beginners.

Audição 1/5

Very distinct sound, usually spoken clearly by teachers.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

上 (up) 下 (down) 课 (lesson) 老师 (teacher) 学校 (school)

Aprenda a seguir

放学 (finish school) 休息 (rest) 作业 (homework) 考试 (exam) 图书馆 (library)

Avançado

结业 (complete a course) 辞职 (resign) 罢免 (remove from office) 语义泛化 (semantic generalization)

Gramática essencial

Separable Verbs (离合词)

下课 (xiàkè) -> 下了一节课 (xià le yī jié kè)

Time when (Time before Verb)

我三点下课 (Wǒ sān diǎn xiàkè)

Duration with Separable Verbs

下了四十分钟课 (xià le sìshí fēnzhōng kè)

Resultative Complement '完'

下完课 (xià wán kè)

Particle '了' for change of state

下课了 (xiàkè le)

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Exemplos por nível

我们十点下课。

We finish class at ten o'clock.

Time + 下课.

老师，什么时候下课？

Teacher, when does class finish?

Question word '什么时候' before the verb.

下课了！

Class is over!

Using '了' to show a change of state.

我三点下课。

I finish class at three.

Subject + Time + Verb.

下课以后我去商店。

After class, I go to the store.

下课 + 以后 (after).

你几点下课？

What time do you finish class?

Using '几点' for time questions.

我们现在下课。

We finish class now.

Use of '现在' (now).

下课去吃饭吧。

Let's go eat after class.

Suggestion particle '吧'.

你下课以后要做什么？

What are you going to do after class?

Structure: 下课 + 以后 + verb phrase.

我已经下课了。

I have already finished class.

已经...了 for completed action.

老师还没下课呢。

The teacher hasn't finished class yet.

还没...呢 for 'not yet'.

下课以后我们去图书馆吧。

Let's go to the library after class.

Common social suggestion.

你每天几点下课？

What time do you finish class every day?

每天 (every day) indicates routine.

我们还没下课，请等一下。

We haven't finished class, please wait a moment.

Polite request using '请'.

一下课，他就跑出去了。

As soon as class was over, he ran out.

一...就... (as soon as... then...).

今天我们提早下课。

Today we finish class early.

提早 (early/ahead of time) as an adverb.

我下了课就给你打电话。

I'll call you as soon as I finish class.

The '了' here marks the completion of '下' before the next action.

你今天下什么课？

What class are you finishing today? (Which one is ending?)

Inserting the subject '什么' inside the separable verb.

我们刚下完数学课。

We just finished math class.

Inserting '完' (resultative) and the subject '数学' inside.

下了课，大家都在操场上玩。

After class, everyone is playing on the playground.

Using '下了课' as a time clause.

因为下雨，今天提早下课了。

Because of the rain, class finished early today.

Cause and effect using '因为'.

老师还没说下课，别走。

The teacher hasn't said class is over, don't leave.

Verb '说' + object '下课'.

你下课以后有空吗？

Are you free after class?

Standard way to ask for a meeting.

我已经下了两节课了。

I have already finished two periods of class.

Inserting duration/quantity '两节' inside the verb.

由于表现不佳，主教练被迫下课。

Due to poor performance, the head coach was forced to step down.

Metaphorical/Slang use of '下课' meaning 'fired'.

这门课程将在下周五正式结课。

This course will officially conclude next Friday.

Using '结课' for the end of a whole course.

下了课，他急匆匆地赶往兼职的地方。

After finishing class, he rushed to his part-time job.

Using '急匆匆' to describe the manner of action.

虽然下课了，但还有很多学生在请教老师。

Although class is over, many students are still asking the teacher questions.

Concession structure '虽然...但...'.

听见下课铃声，我的心早就飞出去了。

Hearing the end-of-class bell, my heart had already flown out (of the room).

Idiomatic expression '心飞出去了'.

他因为违规操作，在公司内部“下课”了。

He was 'dismissed' within the company due to illegal operations.

Slang use in a corporate context.

老师下课前布置了大量的作业。

The teacher assigned a lot of homework before class ended.

下课 + 前 (before).

这节课下了之后，我们就去吃火锅。

After this period finishes, we'll go eat hotpot.

Using '这节课下' as the subject-verb part.

舆论压力最终导致了这位官员的下课。

Public pressure eventually led to the official's dismissal.

Using '下课' as a noun (dismissal).

每当铃声响起，那种解脱感伴随着下课的喧哗扑面而来。

Whenever the bell rings, that sense of relief accompanies the bustle of class dismissal.

Literary description of the school atmosphere.

即便下课了，他依然沉浸在刚才的哲学讨论中。

Even though class finished, he was still immersed in the philosophical discussion from earlier.

Use of '即便' (even if/though).

下课的钟声不仅是休息的信号，更是思维转换的契机。

The bell for class dismissal is not just a signal for rest, but an opportunity for a shift in thinking.

Abstract metaphorical comparison.

他在执教生涯中经历过多次“下课”的危机。

He has experienced several 'dismissal' crises during his coaching career.

Describing a career history.

学生们在下课后的欢声笑语中消解了学习的疲劳。

The students dissipated their study fatigue amidst the laughter and chatter after class.

Using '消解' (to dissipate/resolve).

老师习惯在下课前的最后一分钟总结核心观点。

The teacher is accustomed to summarizing the core points in the last minute before class ends.

Describing a professional habit.

那个曾经风光无限的CEO，如今也黯然下课了。

That once-glorious CEO has now also dejectedly stepped down.

Using '黯然' (dejectedly) to modify the dismissal.

在现代汉语语境下，“下课”一词的语义泛化现象值得语言学者关注。

In the context of modern Chinese, the semantic generalization of the term 'xiàkè' is worthy of linguists' attention.

Academic discussion of semantic shift.

这种“非正常下课”折射出该体制内问责机制的严苛。

This 'abnormal dismissal' reflects the harshness of the accountability mechanism within the system.

Sociopolitical analysis.

当最后一名学生离开教室，下课后的寂静显得格外深沉。

When the last student leaves the classroom, the silence after class seems exceptionally profound.

Evocative literary imagery.

对于职业教练而言，“下课”往往意味着一段执教哲学的终结与反思的开始。

For professional coaches, 'dismissal' often means the end of a coaching philosophy and the beginning of reflection.

Philosophical observation.

他以一种近乎体面的方式完成了在政坛的“下课”。

He completed his 'exit' from the political arena in a nearly dignified manner.

Nuanced description of an exit.

下课铃声的律动，构成了校园生活中最稳恒的节奏感。

The rhythm of the class-end bell constitutes the most stable sense of pace in campus life.

Metaphorical use of '律动' (rhythm).

尽管已经下课，实验室里依然灯火通明，那是科研精神的延续。

Although class is over, the laboratory is still brightly lit, which is the continuation of the scientific research spirit.

Contrast between formal end and actual work.

在这一轮人事变动中，数位高管纷纷“下课”，引发了市场的剧烈波动。

In this round of personnel changes, several executives 'stepped down' one after another, triggering violent market fluctuations.

Financial/Business reporting register.

Colocações comuns

准时下课

提前下课

拖堂下课

还没下课

刚下课

下课铃声

下课时间

宣布下课

被迫下课

下课以后

Frases Comuns

下课了

— Class is over. Used to announce the end of a session.

铃响了，下课了！

下课以后

— After class. Used to talk about future plans.

下课以后我们去打球。

还没下课

— Not yet finished class. Used to explain why someone is busy.

他还没下课，不能接电话。

几点下课

— What time does class finish? A common question among students.

你下午几点下课？

下课铃

— The end-of-class bell.

我最喜欢听下课铃的声音。

下课间隙

— The interval between classes.

下课间隙只有十分钟。

下完课

— Having finished class. Emphasizes completion.

下完课我就回家。

下课活动

— After-school activities.

我们的下课活动非常丰富。

准备下课

— Preparing to finish class.

老师正在准备下课。

下课通知

— Notice of class ending/cancellation.

我们收到了下课通知。

Frequentemente confundido com

下课 vs 放学

放学 is for the whole day; 下课 is for one lesson.

下课 vs 下班

下班 is for work; 下课 is for school.

下课 vs 结束

结束 is general 'finish'; 下课 is specific to lessons.

Expressões idiomáticas

"黯然下课"

— To leave a post dejectedly or in disgrace, usually in sports or politics.

在连败之后，他只能黯然下课。

Journalistic

"被迫下课"

— To be forced to resign or be fired.

由于丑闻，这位经理被迫下课。

Neutral/Informal

"教练下课"

— A specific chant or headline used when a sports coach is fired.

全场球迷都在高喊‘教练下课’。

Slang/Sports

"下课回家"

— Literally 'finish class and go home,' but often implies failing at a task.

打成这样，还是早点下课回家吧。

Sarcastic

"这一课下得好"

— An ironic way to say someone learned a hard lesson by being fired.

对他来说，这一课下得好，让他学会了谦虚。

Literary/Ironic

"提前下课"

— In sports, losing a game so badly that the outcome is decided early.

由于主力受伤，这支球队提前下课了。

Slang

"终身下课"

— Being banned from a profession for life.

因为作弊，他被终身下课了。

Informal

"下课铃响"

— Metaphor for the end of an era or a period of time.

对他而言，职业生涯的下课铃响了。

Poetic

"该下课了"

— It's time for someone to step down or leave.

这种过时的管理模式该下课了。

Critical

"集体下课"

— When an entire team or board is dismissed at once.

董事会成员由于决策失误集体下课。

Business

Fácil de confundir

下课 vs 放学

Both involve finishing school activities.

下课 is for a single class period. 放学 is for the end of the entire school day when you go home.

我十点下数学课，但下午四点才放学。

下课 vs 结课

Both mean finishing a class.

下课 is daily. 结课 means the whole course is finished for the semester.

今天下课后，这门课就正式结课了。

下课 vs 下班

Both use '下' to mean finishing a duty.

下课 is for students/teachers. 下班 is for employees in an office or factory.

学生下课，工人下班。

下课 vs 停课

Both mean class is not happening.

下课 is the normal end. 停课 is a suspension due to an emergency or holiday.

明天停课，所以我们今天不用下课。

下课 vs 课间

Both relate to the time after a class.

下课 is the action of finishing. 课间 is the noun for the break time itself.

下课以后，我们在课间休息时聊天。

Padrões de frases

[Time] 下课

十二点下课。

[Subject] [Time] 下课

我三点下课。

下课以后 [Action]

下课以后去吃饭。

已经下课了

我们已经下课了。

下 [Subject] 课

下英语课。

下完课就 [Action]

下完课就回家。

因为 [Reason] 下课

因为表现不好下课。

导致 ... 下课

压力导致他下课。

Família de palavras

Substantivos

课程 (kèchéng - curriculum)

课本 (kèběn - textbook)

课桌 (kèzhuō - desk)

课间 (kèjiān - break time)

Verbos

上课 (shàngkè - start class)

补课 (bǔkè - make up a class)

听课 (tīngkè - attend a lecture)

备课 (bèikè - prepare a lesson)

Adjetivos

课外的 (kèwài de - extracurricular)

Relacionado

老师 (lǎoshī - teacher)

学生 (xuésheng - student)

教室 (jiàoshì - classroom)

学校 (xuéxiào - school)

作业 (zuòyè - homework)

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Como usar

frequency

Extremely high in daily life and educational settings.

Erros comuns

我下课英语课。 → 我下英语课。
You don't need 'kè' twice. '下课' already contains 'kè'. You put the subject '英语' before the '课' inside the word.
我下课了三十分钟。 → 我下了三十分钟课。
Duration must be placed between the verb '下' and the object '课'.
五点下课以后我回家。 → 五点下课以后我就回家。
While your sentence is okay, adding '就' makes it sound more natural, indicating an immediate action.
老师下课我们。 → 老师给我们下课了 / 老师宣布下课。
'下课' cannot take 'us' as a direct object. It is an intransitive verb phrase.
下课的时候，我去书店。 → 下课以后，我去书店。
'下课的时候' means 'at the moment class finishes.' '下课以后' is more common for 'after class.'

Dicas

Separable Verb Logic

Remember that '下' is the verb and '课' is the object. Any duration (like 'one hour') or specific subject (like 'history') goes between them.

The Bell Matters

In China, the bell is the absolute authority. When it rings, '下课' happens immediately, though some teachers might '拖堂' (drag the class longer).

Sharp Tones

Ensure both 'xià' and 'kè' are sharp fourth tones. If you use a flat tone, people might not understand you.

Don't confuse with 下班

Only use '下课' for school. If you are at an office, always use '下班' (xiàbān).

Asking for dates

'你几点下课？' is the most common way to start a conversation with a classmate you like!

Sports Talk

If you see '下课' in a sports headline, look for the name of the person who just lost their job.

Radical Recognition

The character '课' has the speech radical (讠), reminding you that a class involves speaking and instruction.

Duration Placement

Say '下了四十分钟课' for 'had class for 40 minutes.' It's a classic B1 level grammar point.

Thanking the Teacher

After '下课', it is polite to say '谢谢老师' (Xièxiè lǎoshī).

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'Xià' as 'Exit' (X marks the exit) and 'Kè' as 'Course'. You are Exiting the Course.

Associação visual

Imagine a teacher pointing DOWN (Xià) at their desk to signal the end of the lesson (Kè).

Word Web

上课 (Start) 下课 (End) 放学 (Go home) 老师 (Teacher) 课间 (Break) 铃声 (Bell) 作业 (Homework) 教室 (Classroom)

Desafio

Try to say '下课了' every time you finish studying a Chinese lesson today. Say it out loud to reinforce the falling tones.

Origem da palavra

The term originates from the modern school system implemented in China during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period. It combines the verb '下' (to exit/descend) with the noun '课' (lesson).

Significado original: To descend from the teaching platform or to finish a scheduled lesson.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese).

Contexto cultural

Be careful using '下课' in a business setting to mean 'fired' as it can be quite blunt and insulting.

In English, we say 'Class is dismissed' or 'I'm out of class.' '下课' covers both, but is used more frequently as a simple verb.

The chant 'Jia Xiuquan 下课!' (Coach Jia Xiuquan, step down!) is a famous moment in Chinese football history. The song '下课了' by various Mandopop artists celebrating the end of school days. Campus literature (校园文学) often uses the '下课' bell as a motif for youth.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

At the end of a lesson

老师说下课了。
我们可以下课了吗？
下课铃响了。
谢谢老师，下课。

Planning with friends

你几点下课？
下课以后见。
我下课了去找你。
下课去哪里吃饭？

Talking about school schedule

今天五点下课。
这节课很晚才下课。
我们提前下课了。
每天下课都很累。

Sports news

教练下课了。
球迷喊他下课。
他被迫下课。
谁会是下课后的新教练？

Phone conversations

我刚下课。
还没下课，等会儿拨给你。
下完课再聊。
你下课了吗？

Iniciadores de conversa

"你今天几点下课？我们一起去喝咖啡吧。"

"下课以后你打算去图书馆还是回宿舍？"

"你们老师通常准时下课吗，还是会拖堂？"

"刚下课的感觉真好，这节课太难了。"

"听说那个足球教练下课了，你觉得谁会接替他？"

Temas para diário

描述一下你下课铃响那一刻的心情。你通常会做什么？

如果你可以决定下课的时间，你会怎么安排一天的课程？

写一段关于你和朋友下课后在学校附近闲逛的经历。

你曾经有过‘提前下课’的经历吗？那天发生了什么特别的事？

讨论一下‘下课’这个词在体育新闻中被使用的现象。

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No. In Mandarin, '下课' is a verb-object compound. You must place the specific subject before '课'. The correct way is '下英语课' (xià Yīngyǔ kè).

'下课' refers to finishing one specific lesson (e.g., a 45-minute period). '放学' refers to finishing the entire school day and leaving the campus to go home.

You can say '下课了' to mean 'Class is over now.' If you want to say 'I finished class,' you can say '我下课了' or '我下了课'.

Yes, but as slang. It means someone is being fired or removed from their position, similar to a coach being 'dismissed'.

The most common way is '下课以后' (xiàkè yǐhòu) or '下课后' (xiàkè hòu).

Yes, teachers say it to dismiss the students. It is the official way to end the session.

The opposite is '上课' (shàngkè), which means to start class or attend class.

No. Graduation is '毕业' (bìyè). '下课' is just for the daily end of a lesson.

No. For a meeting, use '散会' (sànhuì) or '结束' (jiéshù). '下课' is specifically for educational lessons.

It's a metaphor. It implies the coach is a 'teacher' whose 'lesson' has failed, and it's time for them to leave the 'classroom' (the stadium).

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