下课 xià kè
“to finish class; to get out of class; (fig.) (esp. of a sports coach) to be dismissed”
verb, verb / noun2021 list level 1Traditional 下課
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
下课 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 228: 下课 xiàkè — Level 1; official annotation 1 (动). PDF page 85
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 下课
A verb-object verb meaning "to finish class, for class to be over". It is separable: 下了课, 下课以后, 下课铃. It can also be used figuratively of a coach being fired, but at this level use the literal class meaning.
例句Example sentences
- 我们上午十一点半下课。wǒ men shàng wǔ shí yī diǎn bàn xià kè.Our class ends at eleven thirty in the morning.
- 下课以后，同学们一起去打篮球。xià kè yǐ hòu, tóng xué men yì qǐ qù dǎ lán qiú.After class the classmates go play basketball together.
- 下课了，大家休息十分钟。xià kè le, dà jiā xiū xi shí fēn zhōng.Class is over—everyone take a ten-minute break.
易混词Easily confused
下课vs放学
放学 means school is over for the day and students go home; 下课 only means one class period has ended, and there may be more classes after it.