上课

• Pinyin: shàng kè
• Hanzi breakdown: 上 = to go to/begin; 课 = 讠(speech) + 果 (fruit/result), meaning a lesson or course

Meaning

To attend class; to have a lesson. The standard expression for going to or being in class.

A verb-object compound used for attending or conducting a class. Used by both students (attending class) and teachers (teaching class). The opposite is 下课 (class is over/to dismiss class). Can be modified with subjects, e.g. 上中文课 (attend Chinese class).

Examples

1. 我们九点上课。 Our class starts at nine.
2. 她在上课，不能接电话。 She is in class and can't answer the phone.
3. 今天上了三节课。 I had three classes today.

Usage Guide

Context: school, daily routine

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你今天几点上课？(What time is your class today?)
• 上课了，请安静。(Class is starting, please be quiet.)

Don't Say

• 我上课在学校。(Wrong word order — say 我在学校上课, placing the location before the verb)

Origin & History

A verb-object compound of 上 (to attend/go to) and 课 (class/lesson), literally 'to go to class.'

Cultural Context

Generation: Students and teachers

Social background: Universal