课文

• Pinyin: kè wén
• Hanzi breakdown: 课 (lesson) + 文 (text, writing) — the text of a lesson

Meaning

Text; lesson text. The main reading passage in a textbook lesson.

Refers specifically to the main text or reading passage within a lesson in a textbook. Common activities include 读课文 (read the text aloud), 背课文 (memorise the text), and 学课文 (study the text). A key part of Chinese language education.

Examples

1. 请读一下课文。 Please read the text.
2. 这篇课文不太长。 This text isn't too long.
3. 老师让我们背课文。 The teacher asked us to memorise the text.

Usage Guide

Context: school, education

Tone: academic

Do Say

• 今天学第三课的课文。(Today we study the text of Lesson 3.)
• 你会背这篇课文吗？(Can you recite this text?)

Don't Say

• 我写了一篇课文。(课文 refers to existing textbook text — you don't write a 课文; use 文章 or 作文 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 课 (lesson) and 文 (text, writing) — the written text of a lesson.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal