学年

• Pinyin: xué nián
• Hanzi breakdown: 学 = to study/learn; 年 = pictograph of a person carrying grain, representing the harvest cycle and a year

Meaning

Academic year; school year. The period of study that constitutes one year in an educational institution.

A 学年 typically runs from September to the following June in China and is divided into two semesters (上学期 and 下学期). Used in schools and universities to organise curriculum and measure student progress.

Examples

1. 新学年开始了，同学们都换上了新的教材。 The new school year has started and students have all received new textbooks.
2. 这个学年我打算多参加一些课外活动。 This academic year I plan to join more extracurricular activities.
3. 学校规定每个学年必须修满规定数量的课程。 The school requires students to complete a set number of courses each academic year.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, education

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 新学年就要开始了，你准备好了吗？(The new school year is about to start — are you ready?)
• 这个学年他的成绩有了很大进步。(His grades improved a great deal this academic year.)

Don't Say

• 用'学年'指一节具体的课 (Don't use 学年 to refer to a single class or lesson — use 课 or 节课 for that)

Origin & History

A compound of 学 (to study) and 年 (year). Reflects the structured annual cycle of formal education.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal