教材

• Pinyin: jiào cái
• Hanzi breakdown: 教 = 孝 (filial piety, phonetic) + 攵 (strike/action), meaning to teach; 材 = 木 (wood) + 才 (talent, phonetic), meaning material

Meaning

Textbook; teaching material. Books or materials used for instruction in a course or educational programme.

Refers to any structured learning material used in educational settings, including printed textbooks, workbooks, and digital courseware. Broader than 课本 (textbook for a specific class); 教材 can include supplementary materials, teacher guides, and multimedia resources.

Examples

1. 这本教材是专门为初学者写的。 This textbook was written specifically for beginners.
2. 老师让我们买新的中文教材。 The teacher asked us to buy a new Chinese textbook.
3. 学校选的这套教材内容很丰富。 The set of materials chosen by the school is very comprehensive.

Usage Guide

Context: education, academic, everyday

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 这本教材的练习题很有用。(The exercises in this textbook are very useful.)
• 你用的是什么教材？(What textbook are you using?)

Don't Say

• 我在看一本关于爱情的教材。(Don't use 教材 for novels or general reading — 教材 specifically means instructional material. For a romance book, say 小说.)

Origin & History

Compound of 教 (to teach, to instruct) and 材 (material, timber), together meaning 'teaching material.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal