The school environment is not only filled with cherished memories, but it also serves as a vital space for daily communication. For those learning Chinese or planning to study abroad, mastering Chinese school vocabulary opens the door to smoother conversations with classmates and teachers in everyday life. In this article, we’ll explore a wide range of essential Chinese school vocabulary, including terms for educational institutions, academic activities, and school-related titles — along with practical sample dialogues you can practice at home.
Chinese School Vocabulary
Chinese is a language with a rich and structured vocabulary system, and learning by topic is one of the most effective ways to absorb new words. In the context of school life, there are many vocabulary groups: from subjects, teachers, and classmates to daily campus activities. Let’s dive into these word groups and expand your Chinese school vocabulary step by step!
Chinese Vocabulary for Educational Institutions
What is “school” in Chinese? How do you say “academy” or “college”? Below is a categorized list of Chinese school vocabulary related to different types of educational institutions:
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 幼儿园 | yòu’éryuán | Kindergarten |
| 托儿所 | tuō’érsuǒ | Nursery school |
| 小学 | xiǎoxué | Primary school |
| 初中 | chūzhōng | Junior high school |
| 高中 | gāozhōng | Senior high school |
| 半寄宿学校 | bàn jìsù xuéxiào | Semi-boarding school |
| 寄宿学校 | jìsù xuéxiào | Boarding school |
| 公立学校 | gōnglì xuéxiào | Public school |
| 私立学校 | sīlì xuéxiào | Private school |
| 民办学校 | mínbàn xuéxiào | Independently-run school |
| 国际学校 | guójì xuéxiào | International school |
| 双语学校 | shuāngyǔ xuéxiào | Bilingual school |
| 职业学校 | zhíyè xuéxiào | Vocational school |
| 中等职业学校 | zhōngděng zhíyè xuéxiào | Secondary vocational school |
| 大专 | dàzhuān | Junior college |
| 大学 | dàxué | University |
| 学院 | xuéyuàn | College / Academy |
| 艺术学院 | yìshù xuéyuàn | Art academy |
| 音乐学院 | yīnyuè xuéyuàn | Music academy |
| 舞蹈学院 | wǔdǎo xuéyuàn | Dance academy |
| 医学院 | yīxuéyuàn | Medical college |
| 军事学院 | jūnshì xuéyuàn | Military academy |
| 警察学院 | jǐngchá xuéyuàn | Police academy |
| 语言学院 | yǔyán xuéyuàn | Language institute |
| 法律学院 | fǎlǜ xuéyuàn | Law school |
| 管理学院 | guǎnlǐ xuéyuàn | School of management |
| 经济学院 | jīngjì xuéyuàn | School of economics |
| 师范大学 | shīfàn dàxué | Normal university (teacher training) |
| 学术研究院 | xuéshù yánjiūyuàn | Academy of academic research |
| 综合学校 | zōnghé xuéxiào | Comprehensive university |
| 私立大学 | sīlì dàxué | Private university |
| 公立大学 | gōnglì dàxué | Public university |
| 远程教育学院 | yuǎnchéng jiàoyù xuéyuàn | Distance learning school |
| 成人教育中心 | chéngrén jiàoyù zhōngxīn | Adult education center |
| 培训中心 | péixùn zhōngxīn | Training center |
| 特殊教育学校 | tèshū jiàoyù xuéxiào | School for students with disabilities |
| 女子学校 | nǚzǐ xuéxiào | Girls’ school |
| 男子学校 | nánzǐ xuéxiào | Boys’ school |
| 国立大学 | guólì dàxué | National university |
Chinese School Vocabulary: Subjects and Majors
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 科目 | kēmù | Subject |
| 语文 | yǔwén | Literature (Chinese) |
| 中文 | zhōngwén | Chinese language |
| 英语 | yīngyǔ | English |
| 数学 | shùxué | Mathematics |
| 物理 | wùlǐ | Physics |
| 化学 | huàxué | Chemistry |
| 生物 | shēngwù | Biology |
| 地理 | dìlǐ | Geography |
| 历史 | lìshǐ | History |
| 政治 | zhèngzhì | Politics |
| 科学 | kēxué | Science |
| 体育 | tǐyù | Physical education |
| 音乐 | yīnyuè | Music |
| 美术 | měishù | Fine arts |
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 专业 | zhuānyè | Major |
| 信息技术 | xìnxī jìshù | Information technology |
| 科学 | kēxué | Natural science |
| 外语 | wàiyǔ | Foreign languages |
| 法语 | fǎyǔ | French |
| 日语 | rìyǔ | Japanese |
| 德语 | déyǔ | German |
| 韩语 | hányǔ | Korean |
| 俄语 | éyǔ | Russian |
| 计算机科学 | jìsuànjī kēxué | Computer science |
| 经济 | jīngjì | Economics |
| 管理学 | guǎnlǐxué | Management |
| 教育 | jiàoyù | Education |
| 心理学 | xīnlǐxué | Psychology |
| 哲学 | zhéxué | Philosophy |
| 社会学 | shèhuìxué | Sociology |
| 法律 | fǎlǜ | Law |
| 土木工程 | tǔmù gōngchéng | Civil engineering |
| 机械工程 | jīxiè gōngchéng | Mechanical engineering |
| 电气工程 | diànqì gōngchéng | Electrical engineering |
| 电子工程 | diànzǐ gōngchéng | Electronic engineering |
| 通信工程 | tōngxìn gōngchéng | Telecommunications engineering |
| 软件工程 | ruǎnjiàn gōngchéng | Software engineering |
| 网络工程 | wǎngluò gōngchéng | Network engineering |
| 传播学 | chuánbòxué | Communication studies |
| 会计 | kuàijì | Accounting |
| 金融 | jīnróng | Finance |
| 国际贸易 | guójì màoyì | International trade |
| 市场营销 | shìchǎng yíngxiāo | Marketing |
| 人力资源管理 | rénlì zīyuán guǎnlǐ | Human resource management |
| 农业科学 | nóngyè kēxué | Agricultural science |
| 建筑学 | jiànzhúxué | Architecture |
| 设计 | shèjì | Design |
| 艺术 | yìshù | Arts |
| 工商管理 | gōngshāng guǎnlǐ | Business administration |
| 医学 | yīxué | Medicine |
Chinese Vocabulary Related to School
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 学生 | xuéshēng | Student |
| 大学生 | dàxuéshēng | University student |
| 留学生 | liúxuéshēng | International student |
| 研究生 | yánjiūshēng | Graduate student |
| 同学 | tóngxué | Classmate |
| 同班同学 | tóngbān tóngxué | Classmate in the same class |
| 教授 | jiàoshòu | Professor |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | Teacher |
| 校长 | xiàozhǎng | Principal |
| 副校长 | fù xiàozhǎng | Vice principal |
| 班长 | bānzhǎng | Class monitor |
| 辅导员 | fǔdǎoyuán | Academic advisor |
| 主任 | zhǔrèn | Director / Head |
| 教室 | jiàoshì | Classroom |
| 图书馆 | túshūguǎn | Library |
| 奖学金 | jiǎngxuéjīn | Scholarship |
| 讲义 | jiǎngyì | Lecture notes |
| 作业 | zuòyè | Homework |
| 测验 | cèyàn | Quiz |
| 上课 | shàngkè | Attend class |
| 下课 | xiàkè | Finish class |
| 请假 | qǐngjià | Request leave |
| 分数 | fēnshù | Score / Grade |
| 考试 | kǎoshì | Exam |
| 表扬 | biǎoyáng | Praise |
| 自习 | zìxí | Self-study |
| 发卷子 | fā juànzi | Hand out test papers |
| 演讲 | yǎnjiǎng | Presentation |
| 迟到 | chídào | Late arrival |
| 缺席 | quēxí | Absence |
| 点名 | diǎnmíng | Roll call |
| 发言 | fāyán | Speak / Make a statement |
| 研究 | yánjiū | Research |
| 小组作业 | xiǎozǔ zuòyè | Group assignment |
| 项目 | xiàngmù | Project |
| 论文 | lùnwén | Thesis / Dissertation |
| 毕业 | bìyè | Graduation |
| 开学 | kāixué | School starts |
| 结业 | jiéyè | Course completion |
| 宿舍 | sùshè | Dormitory |
| 食堂 | shítáng | Cafeteria |
| 课程表 | kèchéngbiǎo | Class schedule |
| 节课 | jiékè | Class period |
| 比赛 | bǐsài | Competition |
| 运动会 | yùndònghuì | Sports day |
| 教程 | jiàochéng | Curriculum |
| 问题 | wèntí | Question |
| 答案 | dá’àn | Answer |
| 教科书 | jiàokēshū | Textbook |
| 本子 | běnzi | Notebook |
| 钢笔 | gāngbǐ | Fountain pen |
| 铅笔 | qiānbǐ | Pencil |
| 圆珠笔 | yuánzhūbǐ | Ballpoint pen |
| 橡皮 | xiàngpí | Eraser |
| 尺子 | chǐzi | Ruler |
| 书包 | shūbāo | School bag |
| 黑板 | hēibǎn | Blackboard |
| 粉笔 | fěnbǐ | Chalk |
| 投影仪 | tóuyǐngyí | Projector |
| 计算器 | jìsuànqì | Calculator |
| 试卷 | shìjuàn | Test paper |
| 成绩单 | chéngjìdān | Report card |
| 学期 | xuéqī | Semester |
| 学年 | xuénián | Academic year |
| 暑假 | shǔjià | Summer vacation |
| 寒假 | hánjià | Winter vacation |
| 班会 | bānhuì | Class meeting |
| 规定 | guīdìng | Rules / Regulations |
| 校服 | xiàofú | School uniform |
| 实地考察 | shídì kǎochá | Field trip |
| 课外活动 | kèwài huódòng | Extracurricular activities |
| 学习成绩 | xuéxí chéngjì | Academic achievement |
| 纪律 | jìlǜ | Discipline |
| 学位 | xuéwèi | Academic degree |
| 学士 | xuéshì | Bachelor’s degree |
| 硕士 | shuòshì | Master’s degree |
| 博士 | bóshì | Doctorate / PhD |
Sample Dialogues with Chinese School Vocabulary
The topic of school is one of the familiar themes in learning Chinese, especially for students or people living and studying in China. Below are some sample dialogues using Chinese school-related vocabulary to help you practice at home:
Dialogue 1: Doing Group Assignment
A: 你们小组作业准备得怎么样了？
Nǐmen xiǎozǔ zuòyè zhǔnbèi de zěnmeyàng le?
How is your group assignment preparation going?
B: 还可以，我们在图书馆找了不少资料。
Hái kěyǐ, wǒmen zài túshūguǎn zhǎo le bù shǎo zīliào.
It’s okay. We found quite a lot of materials in the library.
A: 班长说明天要交，对吧？
Bānzhǎng shuō míngtiān yào jiāo, duì ba?
The class monitor said it must be submitted tomorrow, right?
B: 对，我们打算今晚在自习室完成。
Duì, wǒmen dǎsuàn jīnwǎn zài zìxíshì wánchéng.
Yes, we plan to finish it tonight in the self-study room.
Dialogue 2: About the Upcoming Exam
A: 下周就期末考试了，你复习得怎么样？
Xià zhōu jiù qīmò kǎoshì le, nǐ fùxí de zěnmeyàng?
The final exam is next week; how is your review going?
B: 数学还可以，语文有点难。
Shùxué hái kěyǐ, yǔwén yǒudiǎn nán.
Math is okay, but Chinese language is a bit difficult.
A: 别紧张，我们可以一起学习。
Bié jǐnzhāng, wǒmen kěyǐ yìqǐ xuéxí.
Don’t be nervous; we can study together.
B: 好啊，谢谢你！学习压力太大了。
Hǎo a, xièxie nǐ! Xuéxí yālì tài dà le.
Sure, thank you! The study pressure is too much.
Summary
Hopefully, this set of Chinese school vocabulary and dialogues helps you expand your vocabulary and understand the context of usage better. This is an important foundation to build confidence in class, chatting with friends and teachers, or studying in a Chinese-speaking environment. For effective Chinese learning with a clear plan, don’t hesitate to check out Chinese courses at Ni Hao Ma and contact the hotline for detailed consultation!
