to have summer vacation
HSK level
放暑假 is written with 31 strokes (放: 8, 暑: 12, 假: 11). The animation replays automatically.
放暑假 (fàng shǔjià) is a phrase meaning 'to be on / to start summer vacation,' used of students and schools during the hot months.
It combines the verb 放 ('to release / let out') with 暑假 ('summer holiday'), so the literal sense is 'to let out for the summer break.' It is neutral, everyday school vocabulary. For English speakers the key point is that 放 is the verb that pairs with holidays: 放假 (have a day off), 放寒假 (have winter break), 放暑假 (have summer break).
You don't 'have' a vacation with 有; you 放 it, because the school is 'releasing' the students. As a verb phrase it can take a duration: 放两个月暑假 (have a two-month summer vacation). 暑 specifically means 'summer heat,' distinguishing it from 寒假 (winter, 'cold' break).
Character by character
Memory hook: 放 (let out) + 暑 (summer heat) + 假 (holiday) = school lets you out for the hot-weather break.
下星期就放暑假了，我很开心。
Xià xīngqī jiù fàng shǔjià le, wǒ hěn kāixīn.
Summer vacation starts next week, I'm so happy.
spoken
放暑假的时候，我打算回老家。
Fàng shǔjià de shíhou, wǒ dǎsuàn huí lǎojiā.
During summer vacation, I plan to go back to my hometown.
neutral
学校一般七月初放暑假。
Xuéxiào yìbān qī yuè chū fàng shǔjià.
Schools usually start summer break in early July.
neutral
放暑假了也别忘了做作业。
Fàng shǔjià le yě bié wàng le zuò zuòyè.
Even on summer break, don't forget to do your homework.
spoken
放假 is the general 'to have time off / a holiday,' for any break or public holiday. 放暑假 specifies the summer school break. Use 放假 for a single day off, 放暑假 for the long summer holiday.
放寒假 is winter break (寒 = cold), which in China surrounds Spring Festival. 放暑假 is summer break (暑 = heat). Same structure, opposite season.
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