Meaning
同学 refers to someone who studies at the same school or in the same class as you. It's one of the most basic and commonly used nouns for social relationships in educational settings. The term can also be used as a polite form of address when speaking to students or young people, even if you don't actually share a classroom.
Usage
Native speakers use 同学 both as a noun ('my classmate') and as a direct form of address ('同学, please be quiet'). Teachers commonly use it to address students collectively or individually. It typically implies a peer relationship among students of similar age and educational level. The term maintains use even after graduation when referring to people you studied with.
Examples
- 01我的同学都很友好。.My classmates are all very friendly.
- 02同学，请安静一点。, .Classmate, please be a bit quieter.
Characters
Measure words
- 位一位同学
- 个三个同学
Common collocations
- 老同学old classmate
- 同学们classmates (plural)
- 同班同学classmate from the same class
- 大学同学university classmate
Origin
Literally means 'same study' or 'together learning,' directly reflecting the concept of people who study together in the same environment.