Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== bǔxíbān: 补习班 - Cram School, Tutoring Center, After-School Class ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** buxiban, 补习班, cram school in China, Chinese tutoring center, after-school classes China, gaokao prep, Chinese education system, extra lessons, supplementary education, tutoring in China, what is buxiban. * **Summary:** A **补习班 (bǔxíbān)** is a private cram school or tutoring center in China that offers supplementary academic classes outside of the regular school day. A ubiquitous and essential part of the modern Chinese education system, these centers are not just for struggling students but are widely used by all to gain a competitive edge in high-stakes exams like the **高考 (gāokǎo)**. Understanding the **补习班** is key to understanding the pressures and priorities of student life in China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bǔxíbān * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** A commercial educational institution offering supplementary classes or tutoring outside of the regular school system. * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine your regular school day ends, but instead of going home to play, you go to another school. That's a `补习班`. It's where students go to get extra help, review difficult subjects, or learn advanced material to prepare for crucial exams. For millions of Chinese students, it's a standard, almost unavoidable, part of their weekly routine. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **补 (bǔ):** To supplement, to mend, to patch, or to make up for a deficiency. Think of it as adding something that is missing or reinforcing something weak. * **习 (xí):** To study, to practice, or to review. The character is said to originate from a pictogram of a baby bird flapping its wings in a nest, practicing to fly. It beautifully captures the idea of learning through repeated practice. * **班 (bān):** A class or a group of people. When combined, **补习班 (bǔxíbān)** literally translates to a "supplementary practice class." This perfectly describes its function: a class you take to supplement your regular schooling through focused practice and study. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The concept of the `补习班` is deeply woven into the fabric of modern Chinese society and is a direct consequence of its hyper-competitive education system. The single most important driver is the **高考 (gāokǎo)**, the national college entrance exam. A student's score on this one exam can determine their entire future—which university they can attend and, by extension, their career prospects. To an American or Westerner, a `补习班` might seem like "tutoring." However, there's a crucial difference in scale and purpose. In the West, tutoring is often remedial, intended to help a student who is falling behind. An "after-school program" might be for enrichment, like drama club or sports. A `补习班` is different. It's a massive, parallel education industry. It's not just for struggling students; in fact, top students are often the most likely to attend to get an even greater advantage. Attending a `补习班` is seen less as a sign of weakness and more as a sign of ambition and a family's investment in their child's future. It reflects the deep-seated cultural value that education is the primary path to success and upward social mobility, a belief with roots stretching back to the ancient imperial examination system. The intense competition, often described by the modern buzzword **内卷 (nèijuǎn)** or "involution," means that if everyone else's child is attending a `补习班`, you feel immense pressure to have your child attend one too, just to keep up. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== The term `补习班` is a part of everyday conversation, especially among families with school-aged children. * **For Parents:** Parents will discuss which `补习班` has the best teachers or the highest success rate for getting students into top universities. It's a significant financial investment and a source of both pride and anxiety. * **For Students:** Students often talk about `补习班` with a sense of resignation or complaint. It's the place that eats up their weekends and holidays. They might complain, "我又要去上补习班了 (Wǒ yòu yào qù shàng bǔxíbān le - I have to go to cram school again)." * **Types:** While the term most often refers to academic subjects like Math, English, or Physics, it can also be used for non-academic enrichment classes like piano or art, though the core connotation is academic. * **Connotation:** The word itself is neutral, but its use in conversation often carries a feeling of pressure, stress, or obligation. It's a necessary grind, not a fun hobby. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 为了准备高考，他报了三个**补习班**。 * Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi gāokǎo, tā bào le sān ge **bǔxíbān**. * English: In order to prepare for the Gaokao, he signed up for three cram schools. * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the high-pressure context. Attending multiple `补习班` simultaneously is common for students preparing for major exams. * **Example 2:** * 妈妈，我这个周末不想去**补习班**，我想休息一下。 * Pinyin: Māma, wǒ zhège zhōumò bù xiǎng qù **bǔxíbān**, wǒ xiǎng xiūxi yíxià. * English: Mom, I don't want to go to the tutoring center this weekend, I want to rest. * Analysis: A very common sentiment expressed by students. It highlights the fatigue and loss of free time associated with `补习班`. * **Example 3:** * 你觉得哪个英语**补习班**最好？ * Pinyin: Nǐ juéde nǎge Yīngyǔ **bǔxíbān** zuì hǎo? * English: Which English cram school do you think is the best? * Analysis: A typical question among parents or students looking for recommendations. It shows how `补习班` are often specialized by subject. * **Example 4:** * 上**补习班**的费用真不便宜。 * Pinyin: Shàng **bǔxíbān** de fèiyòng zhēn bù piányi. * English: The fees for attending cram school are really not cheap. * Analysis: This points to the significant financial burden that `补习班` can place on a family. * **Example 5:** * 虽然很累，但上了**补习班**以后，我的数学成绩确实提高了很多。 * Pinyin: Suīrán hěn lèi, dàn shàng le **bǔxíbān** yǐhòu, wǒ de shùxué chéngjì quèshí tígāo le hěn duō. * English: Although it's very tiring, my math scores have indeed improved a lot after attending the cram school. * Analysis: This shows the perceived (and often real) effectiveness of `补习班`, which is why they remain so popular despite the drawbacks. * **Example 6:** * 很多学校的老师也会在校外的**补习班**兼职。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō xuéxiào de lǎoshī yě huì zài xiàowài de **bǔxíbān** jiānzhí. * English: Many school teachers also work part-time at outside tutoring centers. * Analysis: This touches upon a controversial but common practice, where some of the best teaching talent is found in the private sector. * **Example 7:** * 现在的孩子真辛苦，从小就要上各种**补习班**。 * Pinyin: Xiànzài de háizi zhēn xīnkǔ, cóngxiǎo jiù yào shàng gèzhǒng **bǔxíbān**. * English: Kids these days have it so tough, they have to attend all sorts of cram classes from a young age. * Analysis: A common social commentary, reflecting a societal awareness of the immense academic pressure on children. * **Example 8:** * 这家**补习班**以其严格的管理而闻名。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā **bǔxíbān** yǐ qí yángé de guǎnlǐ ér wénmíng. * English: This cram school is famous for its strict management. * Analysis: Highlights that `补习班` are businesses that compete on factors like teaching style, rigor, and results. * **Example 9:** * 我得走了，我的**补习班**快开始了。 * Pinyin: Wǒ děi zǒu le, wǒ de **bǔxíbān** kuài kāishǐ le. * English: I have to go, my cram class is about to start. * Analysis: A simple, practical sentence a learner could use. `上补习班 (shàng bǔxíbān)` means "to attend cram school" and `我的补习班 (wǒ de bǔxíbān)` means "my cram class". * **Example 10:** * 政府正在试图规范**补习班**行业。 * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài shìtú guīfàn **bǔxíbān** hángyè. * English: The government is trying to regulate the cram school industry. * Analysis: This refers to recent, real-world events in China where the government has implemented policies (the "double reduction" or `双减 (shuāngjiǎn)`) to ease academic burdens by cracking down on the private tutoring industry. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Mistake 1: Confusing `补习班` with `学校 (xuéxiào)`.** * A `学校 (xuéxiào)` is a student's main, official school (e.g., elementary, middle, or high school). A `补习班` is a private, supplementary institution. You attend `学校` during the day on weekdays; you attend `补习班` after school, on weekends, or during holidays. * **Mistake 2: Assuming it's only for "bad" students.** * This is the biggest cultural misunderstanding. Unlike Western tutoring which is often remedial, `补习班` is a tool for *all* students, especially the most ambitious ones, to gain a competitive advantage. It's about getting from a 90 to a 95, not just from a 60 to a 70. * **False Friend: "After-school club".** * An "after-school club" in English often implies voluntary, fun, interest-based activities like chess, debate, or sports. A `补习班` is almost always academic, rigorous, and focused on improving test scores. The feeling is one of obligation, not recreation. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[高考]] (gāokǎo) - The National College Entrance Exam. The primary reason for the existence and intensity of the `补习班` industry. * [[家教]] (jiājiào) - Private tutor (usually one-on-one). A more personalized and often more expensive alternative to a `补习班`. * [[内卷]] (nèijuǎn) - "Involution." A popular modern slang term describing the vicious cycle of hyper-competition where everyone works harder, but no one gets ahead. The `补习班` is a perfect example of `内卷`. * [[压力]] (yālì) - Pressure, stress. A feeling universally associated with attending `补习班`. * [[教育]] (jiàoyù) - Education. The broader field to which `补习班` belongs. * [[辅导]] (fǔdǎo) - To tutor, to coach. This is the verb for the action that happens at a `补习班`. You can say `老师给我辅导 (lǎoshī gěi wǒ fǔdǎo)` - "The teacher is tutoring me." * [[中考]] (zhōngkǎo) - The Senior High School Entrance Examination. Another critical exam that fuels the demand for `补习班` for younger students. * [[双减]] (shuāngjiǎn) - "Double Reduction." The name of a major government policy launched in 2021 to reduce the burdens of both homework and after-school tutoring on students.