3 · 40 words

Schools and universities

The stages of education, the school year, subjects, marks and life on campus.

The Chinese school ladder runs 幼儿园(yòu'éryuán), 小学(xiǎoxué), 初中(chūzhōng), 高中(gāozhōng) and 大学(dàxué), and the two middle rungs together are 中学(zhōngxué). English “graduate from” has nothing to translate the “from”: 毕业(bìyè) takes no object, so the school comes first — 大学(dàxué)毕业(bìyè). Many words for school life are built on 学(xué) and 考(kǎo): 转学(zhuǎnxué), 退学(tuìxué), 补考(bǔkǎo), 考上(kǎoshàng).

The words

Verb (9)

毕业(bìyè)to graduate; to finish schoolVerb3

我(wǒ)明年(míngnián)六月(liùyuè)毕业(bìyè)。I graduate next June.

Takes no object: 大学(dàxué)毕业(bìyè), “graduate from university”.

留学(liúxué)to study abroadVerb3

她(tā)打算(dǎsuàn)明年(míngnián)去(qù)日本(Rìběn)留学(liúxué)。She plans to study in Japan next year.

开学(kāixué)to start term; school startsVerb3

下(xià)个(ge)月(yuè)一(yī)号(hào)开学(kāixué)，我(wǒ)得(děi)准备(zhǔnbèi)一下(yíxià)。Term starts on the first of next month; I need to get ready.

放假(fàngjià)to have a holiday; to break up (for the holidays)Verb3

学校(xuéxiào)下(xià)星期(xīngqī)开始(kāishǐ)放假(fàngjià)。School breaks up next week.

假(jià), “holiday”, is read jià; as “false” it is jiǎ.

补考(bǔkǎo)to resit (an exam); resitVerb3

他(tā)数学(shùxué)没(méi)及格(jígé)，开学(kāixué)以后(yǐhòu)得(děi)补考(bǔkǎo)。He failed maths and has to resit it when term starts.

转学(zhuǎnxué)to change schoolsVerb3

因为(yīnwèi)搬家(bānjiā)，他(tā)上(shàng)个(ge)月(yuè)转学(zhuǎnxué)了(le)。Because the family moved, he changed schools last month.

报名(bàomíng)to sign up; to enrolVerb3

想(xiǎng)参加(cānjiā)比赛(bǐsài)的(de)同学(tóngxué)请(qǐng)在(zài)星期五(xīngqīwǔ)以前(yǐqián)报名(bàomíng)。Students who want to enter the competition should sign up before Friday.

退学(tuìxué)to leave school (before finishing); to drop outVerb3

他(tā)因为(yīnwèi)家(jiā)里(lǐ)没(méi)钱(qián)，只好(zhǐhǎo)退学(tuìxué)了(le)。Because his family had no money, he had to drop out of school.

考上(kǎoshàng)to get into (a school by passing its entrance exam)Verb3

她(tā)考上(kǎoshàng)了(le)一(yì)所(suǒ)很(hěn)好(hǎo)的(de)大学(dàxué)。She got into a very good university.

This list belongs to School, university and research — five lists and 201 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.