verb HSK 1
Traditional 上課
to attend class · to go to class · to have class
Meaning
上课 literally means 'to go up to class' and refers to the action of attending or having a lesson. It's one of the most basic and frequently used terms in educational contexts, describing when students participate in formal instruction or when teachers conduct a lesson.
Usage
Used by both students (to say they're attending class) and teachers (to say they're teaching). Often paired with time expressions like 现在 (now) or specific times. The opposite action of finishing class is 下课 (xià kè). Very neutral register, appropriate for all contexts from elementary school through university.
Examples
- 01我们九点开始上课。.We start class at nine o'clock.
- 02老师正在上课，请不要说话。, .The teacher is teaching class, please don't talk.
Characters
Measure words
- 节上一节课
Common collocations
- 上课时间class time
- 准备上课to prepare for class
- 上课认真to be attentive in class
- 正在上课in the middle of class
Antonyms
Origin
Combines 上 (up/to go to) with 课 (class/lesson). The character 课 originally meant 'to assess' or 'to test' and evolved to mean 'lesson' or 'class session'.