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HSK 4

放暑假

to have summer vacation

phraseneutral
fàng4th tone
shǔ3rd tone
jià4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
fàng shǔjià
Part of speech
phrase
Level
HSK 4
Strokes
31
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 放暑假

放暑假 is written with 31 strokes (: 8, : 12, : 11). The animation replays automatically.

What does 放暑假 mean?

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 ('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 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 ; you 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). specifically means 'summer heat,' distinguishing it from 寒假 (winter, 'cold' break).

Character by character

fàngto release; to let out (of school/work)
+
shǔsummer heat; hot season
+
jiàholiday; vacation; leave
=
放暑假

Memory hook: 放 (let out) + 暑 (summer heat) + 假 (holiday) = school lets you out for the hot-weather break.

Example sentences

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

Common phrases with 放暑假

放暑假了fàng shǔjià lesummer vacation has started
暑假作业shǔjià zuòyèsummer homework
放寒假fàng hánjiàto have winter break
过暑假guò shǔjiàto spend the summer holiday

Synonyms

放假fàngjià

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.

Don't confuse 放暑假 with

放寒假fàng hánjià

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.

请假qǐngjià

请假 means 'to ask for leave / request time off' as an individual. 放暑假 is a scheduled school-wide break that the institution grants. Don't 请假 when you mean the whole school is off.

FAQ

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