暑假
shǔjià
The English phrase "summer break" is translated into Chinese as 暑假 (shǔjià).
暑假 refers to the long vacation from school that students and teachers experience during the summer months. The term highlights the sweltering heat of the season.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 暑 (shǔ), meaning 'heat' or 'summer heat' and 假 (jià), meaning 'vacation' or 'holiday'.
Which one should you use?
While 暑假 (shǔjià) refers specifically to the summer break, the term 寒假 (hánjià) is used to refer to the winter break.
Is it said differently in some regions?
暑假 is the term used in Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, you do not simply "have" a summer break. Instead, you use the verb 放 (fàng), which means 'to release' or 'to let go', to say 放暑假 (fàng shǔjià) to mean "to have summer break".
How do you pronounce it?
shǔjià
Did you know?
- The verb 放 (fàng) used in 放暑假 is the same character used for 'releasing' a prisoner or 'setting off' a firecracker.
- The character 假 (jià) in 暑假 also means 'fake' or 'false' in other contexts, such as in the word for 'counterfeit'.
- In China, the summer break is often filled with 暑假作业 (shǔjià zuòyè), or 'summer break homework', which can be as extensive as a full term's workload.
Examples in context
- 學生放暑假時找工作真的很難。It's really hard to find a job during the summer break as a student.This sentence is useful for discussing the difficulty of finding employment during the time of 暑假.Tatoeba #13867399 by LeviHighway, translation #13320338 by frpzzd
- 我期待着暑假的到来，准备参加一些夏令营。I'm looking forward to the arrival of summer break and preparing to participate in some summer camps.
- 每年公司都会给员工安排暑期休假。Every year, the company arranges summer break for its employees.
- 暑假时间真的太短了，希望能够做更多有趣的事情。Summer break is really short, hoping to do more interesting things.
- 妳打算暑假去哪裡玩？Nǐ dǎsuàn shǔjià qù nǎlǐ wán?Where do you plan to go during summer break?
- 我弟弟明年暑假要去美國。Wǒ dìdì míngnián shǔjià yào qù Měiguó.My younger brother is going to America during next summer break.
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their upcoming vacation.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，快到暑假了，你开心吗？Zhìqiáng, kuài dào shǔjià le, nǐ kāixīn ma?Zhiqiang, summer break is coming soon, are you happy?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我很开心，我想在家里睡觉。Wǒ hěn kāixīn, wǒ xiǎng zài jiālǐ shuìjiào.I'm very happy, I want to sleep at home.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你打算整个暑假都睡觉吗？Nǐ dǎsuàn zhěnggè shǔjià dōu shuìjiào ma?Do you plan to sleep for the whole summer break?
- 志强 Zhiqiang哈哈，当然不是，我会去游泳的。Hāhā, dāngrán búshì, wǒ huì qù yóuyǒng de.Haha, of course not, I will go swimming.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
