The topic of school supplies in Chinese is one of the most basic and familiar subjects in everyday life, especially for students. Mastering vocabulary related to school supplies in Chinese will make it easier for you to communicate in educational settings or when shopping for study materials. Right now, Ni Hao Ma will introduce you to the most common Chinese vocabulary for school supplies, along with example dialogues so you can practice right at home.
Vocabulary for school supplies in Chinese
Equipping yourself with a rich vocabulary of common items such as school supplies not only helps you name them correctly in daily conversation but also comes in handy when shopping. From familiar items like pens and notebooks to modern electronic devices, let’s explore together!
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
学习用品 | xuéxí yòngpǐn | School supplies |
笔 | bǐ | Pen |
铅笔 | qiānbǐ | Pencil |
圆珠笔 | yuánzhūbǐ | Ballpoint pen |
钢笔 | gāngbǐ | Fountain pen |
活动铅笔 | huó dòng qiān bǐ | Mechanical pencil |
毛笔 | máo bǐ | Brush pen |
橡皮 | xiàngpí | Eraser |
尺子 | chǐzi | Ruler |
剪刀 | jiǎndāo | Scissors |
胶水 | jiāoshuǐ | Glue |
本子 | běnzi | Notebook |
练习本 | liànxíběn | Exercise book |
字典 | zìdiǎn | Dictionary |
原子笔 | yuánzǐbǐ | Ink pen |
笔记本 | bǐjìběn | Notepad / Journal |
文件夹 | wénjiànjiā | File folder |
资料 | zīliào | Materials / Documents |
黑板 | hēibǎn | Blackboard |
白板笔 | báibǎnbǐ | Whiteboard marker |
彩色笔 | cǎisèbǐ | Colored pen |
马克笔 | mǎkèbǐ | Marker |
荧光笔 | yíng guāng bǐ | Highlighter |
文件袋 | wénjiàndài | Document bag |
双面胶 | shuāngmiànjiāo | Double-sided tape |
图钉 | túdīng | Pushpin |
回形针 | huíxíngzhēn | Paperclip |
订书机 | dìngshūjī | Stapler |
订书针 | dìngshūzhēn | Staples |
画笔 | huàbǐ | Paintbrush |
墨水 | mòshuǐ | Ink |
计算器 | jìsuànqì | Calculator |
便签纸 | biànqiānzhǐ | Sticky notes |
笔芯 | bǐxīn | Pen refill |
书 | shū | Book |
教科书 | jiàokēshū | Textbook |
练习本 | liànxíběn | Workbook |

Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
彩色铅笔 | cǎisè qiānbǐ | Colored pencil |
透明胶带 | tòumíng jiāodài | Transparent tape |
涂改液 | túgǎiyè | Correction fluid |
涂改带 | túgǎidài | Correction tape |
书签 | shūqiān | Bookmark |
标签纸 | biāoqiānzhǐ | Label stickers |
活页夹 | huóyèjiā | Binder |
封面 | fēngmiàn | Cover (book/notebook) |
地图 | dìtú | Map |
纸 | zhǐ | Paper |
白纸 | báizhǐ | White paper |
彩纸 | cǎizhǐ | Colored paper |
画纸 | huàzhǐ | Drawing paper |
图纸筒 | túzhǐtǒng | Blueprint/drawing tube |
画架 | huàjià | Easel |
画板 | huàbǎn | Drawing board |
调色碟 | tiáo sè dié | Paint palette |
粉笔 | fěnbǐ | Chalk |
素描本 | sùmiáoběn | Sketchbook |
削笔器 | xiāobǐqì | Pencil sharpener |
文具盒 | wénjùhé | Pencil case |
浆糊 | jiānghú | Paste/glue |
圆规 | yuánguī | Compass (drawing) |
三角尺 | sān jiǎo chǐ | Set square/triangle ruler |
量角器 | liángjiǎoqì | Protractor |
Sample Conversations Using School Supplies Vocabulary in Chinese
You’ve now learned some vocabulary for school supplies in Chinese. This topic often comes up in academic settings and is extremely useful for students studying or planning to study abroad in China. In daily life, you’ll frequently encounter situations related to classrooms, borrowing items, or describing personal belongings. Below are some sample conversations featuring school supplies in Chinese that you can refer to and practice at home:
Conversation 1: Borrowing a Pen and Eraser
A: 你有多一支笔吗?我忘记带了。
Nǐ yǒu duō yì zhī bǐ ma? Wǒ wàngjì dài le.
(Do you have an extra pen? I forgot to bring mine.)
B: 有,这是新的,给你。你还需要橡皮吗?
Yǒu, zhè shì xīn de, gěi nǐ. Nǐ hái xūyào xiàngpí ma?
(Yes, here’s a new one, for you. Do you also need an eraser?)
A: 要,谢谢你!
Yào, xièxie nǐ!
(Yes, thank you!)

Conversation 2: Preparing for Chinese Class
A: 你准备好中文课的东西了吗?
Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo Zhōngwén kè de dōngxi le ma?
(Have you prepared your school supplies in Chinese class?)
B: 还没呢。我现在才在找课本和练习本。
Hái méi ne. Wǒ xiànzài cái zài zhǎo kèběn hé liànxíběn.
(Not yet. I’m just looking for my textbook and exercise book now.)
A: 别忘了带字典,老师今天说要查生词。
Bié wàng le dài zìdiǎn, lǎoshī jīntiān shuō yào chá shēngcí.
(Don’t forget to bring your dictionary; the teacher said we’d look up new words today.)
B: 对哦,我差点忘了!还有要带笔记本记笔记。
Duì o, wǒ chàdiǎn wàng le! Hái yǒu yào dài bǐjìběn jì bǐjì.
(Oh right, I almost forgot! And I need to bring my notebook to take notes.)
A: 没关系,我有两个,你要不要借一个?
Méi guānxi, wǒ yǒu liǎng gè, nǐ yào bùyào jiè yí gè?
(No problem, I have two, do you want to borrow one?)
B: 太好了,谢谢你,真及时!
Tài hǎo le, xièxie nǐ, zhēn jíshí!
(That’s great, thank you, just in time!)

Conversation 3: Preparing for an Exam
A: 明天考试了,你准备好了吗?
Míngtiān kǎoshì le, nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?
(The exam is tomorrow, are you ready?)
B: 差不多吧,我复习了所有的笔记,还整理了重点在便利贴上。
Chàbùduō ba, wǒ fùxí le suǒyǒu de bǐjì, hái zhěnglǐ le zhòngdiǎn zài biànlìtiē shàng.
(Almost, I’ve reviewed all my notes and organized the key points on sticky notes.)
A: 哇,你准备得真认真。我还在找练习册呢,不知道放哪儿了。
Wa, nǐ zhǔnbèi de zhēn rènzhēn. Wǒ hái zài zhǎo liànxícè ne, bù zhīdào fàng nǎr le.
(Wow, you’re really well-prepared. I’m still looking for my workbook; I don’t know where I put it.)
B: 要不要我借你一本?我有两本。
Yàobuyào wǒ jiè nǐ yì běn? Wǒ yǒu liǎng běn.
(Do you want me to lend you one? I have two.)
A: 太感谢你了,等考完我还你!
Tài gǎnxiè nǐ le, děng kǎo wán wǒ huán nǐ!
(Thank you so much, I’ll return it after the exam!)
Conclusion
We hope this article from Ni Hao Ma has provided you with a rich and useful source of vocabulary for school supplies in Chinese. Memorizing and flexibly applying these words will open up many opportunities for you to communicate more confidently, especially in academic settings or when discussing daily life. Practice these words and look forward to more vocabulary compilation articles on other interesting topics!