课本

• Pinyin: kè běn
• Hanzi breakdown: 课 (lesson) + 本 (book) — a book for lessons, a textbook

Meaning

Textbook. A book used for studying in class.

Specifically refers to textbooks used in school or courses, as opposed to general reading material. Common in school life: 打开课本 (open the textbook), 课本上说 (the textbook says). Synonymous with 教科书 in more formal contexts.

Examples

1. 请打开课本第十页。 Please open the textbook to page 10.
2. 我忘了带课本。 I forgot to bring my textbook.
3. 这本课本很好。 This textbook is very good.

Usage Guide

Context: school, education

Tone: academic

Do Say

• 请把课本翻到第三页。(Please turn to page 3 in the textbook.)
• 你的课本在哪儿？(Where is your textbook?)

Don't Say

• 我买了一个课本。(Use 本 as the measure word — say 我买了一本课本)

Origin & History

Compound of 课 (lesson, class) and 本 (book, volume) — a book for lessons.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal