Question 1

What does 课 mean in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

课 (kè) means 'class' or 'lesson' — both a single class period and a course of study. It's the central word in school life, appearing in fixed verb-object phrases: 上课 ('attend class / go to class'), 下课 ('class is over'), 备课 ('prepare a lesson'). Important: 课 takes different measure words depending on what you mean — 一节课 ('one class period'), 一门课 ('one course / subject'), 一堂课 ('one class session'). It also extends to textbook lessons — 第一课 ('lesson one'), 第十课 ('lesson ten'). The compound 课文 (kèwén) means 'text of a lesson,' 课本 (kèběn) is 'textbook,' 课程 (kèchéng) is 'curriculum / course schedule.' Note that 课 by itself never means 'classroom' — that's 教室 (jiàoshì). For private tutoring, you'd say 上一对一的课. The verb 'to teach a class' is 教课 (jiāo kè) or 上课 from the teacher's side.

Question 2

How do you pronounce 课?

Accepted Answer

课 is pronounced kè — 课 (kè).

Question 3

Is 课 a noun, verb, or something else?

Accepted Answer

课 is a noun, register: neutral.

Question 4

What is the measure word for 课?

Accepted Answer

Use 节 (jié). Example: 一节课 — a class period (most common in school context). Other measure words: 门 (mén), 堂 (táng).

Question 5

What's the difference between 课 and 客?

Accepted Answer

Same pinyin (kè) but means 'guest / customer.' 客人 = 'guest,' not 课人. The character 客 has 宀 (roof) above 各, while 课 has the speech radical 讠.

Question 6

What's the difference between 课 and 教室?

Accepted Answer

教室 is the physical 'classroom.' 课 is the lesson itself. 在教室上课 = 'have class in the classroom.' Don't say 上教室 — that's not Chinese.

课

What does 课 mean?

Character breakdown

Measure word for 课

Example sentences

Common phrases with 课

Synonyms

Don't confuse 课 with

FAQ