补习
bǔ xí
Tutoring in Chinese is 补习 (bǔ xí).
补习 is most commonly used to refer to tutoring or extra lessons intended to supplement a student's regular school curriculum or to make up for academic deficiencies. You can also use the term 补习班 to refer to a tutoring class or a cram school by adding the classifier 班 to the end.
Meaning: the act of teaching as a tutor (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 补习 is composed of 补 (bǔ), which means 'to supplement' or 'to make up for' and 习 (xí), which means 'to practice' or 'to study'.
Which one should you use?
While 补习 often implies remedial study to catch up, 辅导 (fǔdǎo) is a more neutral term for 'tutoring' or 'guidance' that can also mean helping a student with specific tasks or subjects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, locals often use the term 家教 (jiājiào) to refer to tutoring.
How do you pronounce it?
bǔ xí
Did you know?
- In mainland China, the government recently introduced the 'Double Reduction' policy, which severely restricted the commercial operation of 补习班 (cram schools) to reduce student stress.
- While 补习 implies filling a gap, the character 补 is also used for 'mending' or 'patching' clothes, treating a student's knowledge like a torn garment.
- In many East Asian cultures, including China, tutoring is so pervasive that 补习班 are often seen as a 'second school' where students spend more time than at their official institution.
Examples in context
- 在考试前，我找了个家教来辅导我。Before the exam, I hired a tutor to guide me.
- 我的辅导老师非常有耐心。My tutoring teacher is very patient.
- 他给了我很多学习辅导。He provided me with a lot of study guidance.
- 我的补习费用很高。Wǒ de bǔxí fèiyòng hěn gāo.My tutoring fees are very high.
- 补习对考试很有帮助。Bǔxí duì kǎoshì hěn yǒu bāngzhù.Tutoring is very helpful for exams.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their after-school schedules.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，你今天有空吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ jīntiān yǒu kòng ma?Zhiqiang, are you free today?
- 志强 Zhiqiang没空，我现在要去补习。Méi kòng, wǒ xiànzài yào qù bǔxí.I'm not free, I have to go to tutoring now.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你补习什么科目？Nǐ bǔxí shénme kēmù?What subject are you tutoring in?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我在补习英语。Wǒ zài bǔxí Yīngyǔ.I am doing tutoring for English.
