课
kè
The Mandarin word for lesson is 课 (kè).
课 refers to both the specific subject matter (the lesson) and the period of time spent in a classroom (the class).
Meaning: learning task assigned to a student (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Using 上 (to go up or attend) with 课 creates 上课, meaning starting or attending a lesson. Conversely, using 下 (to descend or go down) with 课 creates 下课, meaning the lesson has ended.
How do you pronounce it?
kè
Did you know?
- If you want to say you are 'skipping class', you do not use a word for 'skip', but rather the term 翘课, which literally means 'to pry or lift the lesson up'.
- Unlike English, where 'lesson' can mean a moral learned from a mistake, the Mandarin 课 is almost exclusively academic. To express a 'life lesson', Chinese speakers use the word 教训 (jiàoxùn).
- In certain contexts, you can say 补课, which literally means 'to mend or repair a lesson', used when a student needs to make up a missed class.
Examples in context
- 第二课容易。Lesson Two is easy.This sentence shows how to identify a specific lesson number using 课.Tatoeba #10696066 by GlossaMatik, translation #276007 by CK
- 离下课还有十分钟。Ten minutes remained until the end of the lesson.This sentence demonstrates how to express the time remaining until a class is over using 课.Tatoeba #4265057 by notabene, translation #1215966 by Kristinka
- 我去上汉语课。I am going to have a Chinese lesson.This sentence shows how to express attending a specific type of lesson using 课.Tatoeba #1510613 by trieuho, translation #8732678 by Ada_Virus
- 请问你正在学习什么课程呢?May I ask what courses you are studying?
- 我今天的化学课程很有趣。Today's chemistry lesson was very interesting.
- 你最喜欢的课是什么?What is your favorite class?
- 我们下周数学课会讲解新内容。We will learn new material in next week's math lesson.
- 英语课程English course
- 音乐课Music class
- 绘画课程Painting course
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the school library.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，你今天的课多吗？zhì qiáng, nǐ jīn tiān de kè duō ma?Zhiqiang, do you have many lessons today?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我不多，只有一节课。wǒ bù duō, zhǐ yǒu yī jié kè.Not many, I only have one lesson.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那这节课难吗？nà zhè jié kè nán ma?Then is this lesson difficult?
- 志强 Zhiqiang不难，很有意思。bù nán, hěn yǒu yì si.It's not difficult, it's very interesting.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
