====== jiàochéng: 教程 - Tutorial, Course, Guidebook ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  *   **Keywords:** 教程, jiaocheng, tutorial in Chinese, Chinese for course, how-to guide Chinese, jiaocheng meaning, online course Chinese, programming tutorial Chinese, 新手教程, 课程 vs 教程
  *   **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **教程 (jiàochéng)**, the essential Chinese word for a "tutorial," "step-by-step guide," or "practical course." This page provides a deep dive into how **教程** is used in modern China for online learning, software guides, and self-study. Learn the key differences between **教程 (jiàochéng)** and **课程 (kèchéng)** to find the right Chinese learning resources, from a coding tutorial to a makeup guide.
===== Core Meaning =====
  *   **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiàochéng
  *   **Part of Speech:** Noun
  *   **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  *   **Concise Definition:** A tutorial, a set of instructions, or a guidebook that teaches a practical skill through a defined process.
  *   **In a Nutshell:** Think of **教程 (jiàochéng)** as a "how-to" guide. It's less like a formal academic class and more like a YouTube video teaching you how to bake bread, an online guide for learning Python, or the pop-up tour in a new app. The word emphasizes a practical, step-by-step **process (程)** of **teaching (教)** a specific skill.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  *   **教 (jiào):** To teach, instruct, or guide. This character is fundamental to the concept of education in Chinese.
  *   **程 (chéng):** A process, a sequence, a journey, or a set of rules. It implies an orderly progression from one stage to the next. You can see it in words like `过程 (guòchéng - process)` and `程度 (chéngdù - degree/level)`.
When combined, **教程 (jiàochéng)** literally means a "teaching process." This perfectly captures its meaning as a structured guide designed to take a learner from point A to point B.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While not a deeply philosophical term, **教程 (jiàochéng)** is culturally significant in the context of modern China's explosion in online learning and self-improvement. The accessibility of online video platforms and forums has democratized education, allowing anyone to create or follow a **教程** to learn a new skill.
In the West, we distinguish between a formal "course" (like a university class) and a more informal "tutorial" (like a software guide). This distinction is very similar in Chinese. A **教程 (jiàochéng)** is the go-to term for the practical, often self-paced, skill-based learning that has become a massive part of modern life. It reflects a cultural shift towards lifelong learning and acquiring practical skills outside of the traditional, rigid education system. While respect for formal teachers is a core value, the **教程** empowers the individual to become their own teacher.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
=== Online Learning and Self-Study ===
This is the most common context for **教程**. If you are searching for a how-to guide on a Chinese website like Bilibili or Baidu, you will use this word.
  * `化妆教程 (huàzhuāng jiàochéng)` - Makeup tutorial
  * `编程教程 (biānchéng jiàochéng)` - Programming tutorial
  * `吉他教程 (jítā jiàochéng)` - Guitar tutorial
=== Software, Apps, and Games ===
When you use an app or a piece of software for the first time, the guided tour that shows you how to use the features is often called a **新手教程 (xīnshǒu jiàochéng)**, or "beginner's tutorial."
=== Books and Manuals ===
**教程** can also refer to a physical or digital textbook that is structured as a step-by-step guide to learning a skill. For example, a book titled `《Photoshop入门教程》 (Photoshop Rùmén Jiàochéng)` would be an "Introductory Photoshop Tutorial/Guidebook."
===== Example Sentences =====
  *   **Example 1:**
    *   我在网上找到了一个很好的中文**教程**。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒ zài wǎngshàng zhǎodào le yí ge hěn hǎo de Zhōngwén **jiàochéng**.
    *   English: I found a very good Chinese tutorial online.
    *   Analysis: This is a classic example of how learners use the word. `网上 (wǎngshàng)` means "online."
  *   **Example 2:**
    *   这个软件有一个**新手教程**，很容易上手。
    *   Pinyin: Zhè ge ruǎnjiàn yǒu yí ge **xīnshǒu jiàochéng**, hěn róngyì shàngshǒu.
    *   English: This software has a beginner's tutorial, so it's easy to get started.
    *   Analysis: `新手 (xīnshǒu)` means "new hand" or beginner. `上手 (shàngshǒu)` is a great colloquial term for "getting the hang of something."
  *   **Example 3:**
    *   她正在跟着一个视频**教程**学做蛋糕。
    *   Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài gēnzhe yí ge shìpín **jiàochéng** xué zuò dàngāo.
    *   English: She is following a video tutorial to learn how to make a cake.
    *   Analysis: `跟着 (gēnzhe)` means "to follow." `视频 (shìpín)` means "video," so `视频教程` is a "video tutorial."
  *   **Example 4:**
    *   这个**教程**的步骤非常清楚。
    *   Pinyin: Zhè ge **jiàochéng** de bùzhòu fēicháng qīngchǔ.
    *   English: The steps in this tutorial are very clear.
    *   Analysis: `步骤 (bùzhòu)` means "steps," highlighting the sequential nature of a **教程**.
  *   **Example 5:**
    *   你能给我推荐一个学习Python的**教程**吗？
    *   Pinyin: Nǐ néng gěi wǒ tuījiàn yí ge xuéxí Python de **jiàochéng** ma?
    *   English: Can you recommend a tutorial for learning Python?
    *   Analysis: `推荐 (tuījiàn)` means "to recommend," a very useful verb when asking for resources.
  *   **Example 6:**
    *   我想自己录一个化妆**教程**。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng zìjǐ lù yí ge huàzhuāng **jiàochéng**.
    *   English: I want to record a makeup tutorial myself.
    *   Analysis: `录 (lù)` means "to record." This shows how an individual can also be a creator of a **教程**.
  *   **Example 7:**
    *   这个**教程**太复杂了，我看不懂。
    *   Pinyin: Zhè ge **jiàochéng** tài fùzá le, wǒ kàn bù dǒng.
    *   English: This tutorial is too complicated, I can't understand it.
    *   Analysis: `看不懂 (kàn bù dǒng)` is a key phrase meaning "can't understand by reading/watching."
  *   **Example 8:**
    *   这本书其实是一本完整的Photoshop**教程**。
    *   Pinyin: Zhè běn shū qíshí shì yì běn wánzhěng de Photoshop **jiàochéng**.
    *   English: This book is actually a complete Photoshop tutorial.
    *   Analysis: `完整 (wánzhěng)` means "complete," showing that a **教程** can be comprehensive.
  *   **Example 9:**
    *   大多数免费**教程**的质量都不太高。
    *   Pinyin: Dàduōshù miǎnfèi **jiàochéng** de zhìliàng dōu bú tài gāo.
    *   English: The quality of most free tutorials is not very high.
    *   Analysis: `免费 (miǎnfèi)` means "free of charge." `质量 (zhìliàng)` means "quality."
  *   **Example 10:**
    *   按照这个**教程**，我终于修好了我的电脑。
    *   Pinyin: Ànzhào zhè ge **jiàochéng**, wǒ zhōngyú xiūhǎo le wǒ de diànnǎo.
    *   English: Following this tutorial, I finally fixed my computer.
    *   Analysis: `按照 (ànzhào)` means "according to," emphasizing the instructional nature of a **教程**.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for learners is confusing **教程 (jiàochéng)** with **课程 (kèchéng)**. They can both be translated as "course," but they are not interchangeable.
  *   **教程 (jiàochéng) - The Tutorial/Guide:**
    *   **Focus:** The "how-to" process, a practical skill.
    *   **Context:** Online guides, software walkthroughs, self-study for a specific task (e.g., coding, repairing something, learning a craft).
    *   **Example:** 你应该看一个**教程**来学习怎么用这个软件。(You should watch a **tutorial** to learn how to use this software.)
  *   **课程 (kèchéng) - The Course/Curriculum:**
    *   **Focus:** The subject matter, an academic topic, a syllabus.
    *   **Context:** University classes, a school subject, a formal training program.
    *   **Example:** 我这学期的历史**课程**很有意思。(My history **course** this semester is very interesting.)
**Incorrect Usage:**
  *   **Wrong:** ~~我的大学物理**教程**很难。~~ (Wǒ de dàxué wùlǐ **jiàochéng** hěn nán.)
  *   **Why it's wrong:** A university physics class is a formal, academic subject. It is a curriculum of study, not just a practical, step-by-step guide.
  *   **Correct:** 我的大学物理**课程**很难。(Wǒ de dàxué wùlǐ **kèchéng** hěn nán.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[课程]] (kèchéng) - A formal course or curriculum. The most important term to distinguish from **教程**.
  *   [[指南]] (zhǐnán) - A guide or guidebook. Often broader and more principle-based than a step-by-step **教程**. Think "A Guide to Investing" vs. "A Tutorial on How to Buy a Stock."
  *   [[说明书]] (shuōmíngshū) - An instruction manual, typically for assembling or operating a physical product like furniture or an appliance.
  *   [[新手]] (xīnshǒu) - A beginner or "new hand." Frequently paired with **教程** to mean "beginner's tutorial."
  *   [[自学]] (zìxué) - To self-study. People often use a **教程** to **自学** a new skill.
  *   [[步骤]] (bùzhòu) - A step or procedure. A good **教程** has clear **步骤**.
  *   [[视频]] (shìpín) - Video. In the modern era, most online tutorials are `视频教程`.
  *   [[教学]] (jiàoxué) - The act, method, or philosophy of teaching. A broader and more abstract concept.