同学
Traditional: 同學
tóng xué HSK 1

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他是我同学。
Tā shì wǒ tóngxué.
He is my classmate.
同学很好。
Tóngxué hěn hǎo.
The classmate is very good.
我同学在。
Wǒ tóngxué zài.
My classmate is here.
我的同学帮我做作业。
Wǒ de tóngxué bāng wǒ zuò zuòyè.
My classmate helped me with my homework.
我每天和同学一起学英语。
Wǒ měitiān hé tóngxué yīqǐ xué yīngyǔ.
I study English with my schoolmate every day.

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 同 (tóng) means 'same,' and 学 (xué) means 'study'—so it's someone you 'study the same' with. Think of it as 'same-study' to recall 'classmate.'

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. Common in educational environments, such as schools or universities, and when referring to peers from one's academic past. It can be used as a standalone noun (e.g., 我的同学) or as a respectful address (e.g., 同学们, 'classmates' or 'students').

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a noun in phrases like 是...的同学 (shì...de tóngxué, 'is...'s classmate'). Can be pluralized with 们 (同学们, tóngxuémen) when addressing a group. Commonly appears with modifiers indicating educational level, e.g., 大学 (dàxué, 'university') in 大学同学.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 同学 relationships are highly valued and often maintained throughout life, with events like 同学会 (tóngxuéhuì, 'class reunion') being common. Using 同学 as an address (e.g., 王同学 for a student named Wang) shows respect in academic contexts.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 朋友 (péngyou, 'friend'), 同学 specifically refers to an academic connection, though classmates can become friends. 同事 (tóngshì) means 'colleague' and is used for workplace relationships, while 同学 is for educational settings.

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