fàngxué: 放学 - To finish school (for the day), To get out of school

• Keywords: fàngxué, fangxue, 放学, what does fangxue mean, finish school in Chinese, get out of school Chinese, end of school day China, after school Chinese, 下课 vs 放学, school's out in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to use “放学 (fàngxué),” one of the most common and important phrases for any student in China. Meaning “to finish school for the day” or “to get out of class,” fàngxué marks a key moment in the daily rhythm of Chinese family life. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage, including the crucial difference between “放学 (fàngxué)” and “下课 (xiàkè).”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fàngxué
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Compound (often functions as a single verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To be dismissed from school for the day.
• In a Nutshell: “放学 (fàngxué)” refers to the specific event of the school day officially ending. It's the moment the final bell rings and students are free to go home, head to extracurriculars, or meet their parents. The feeling is universal—freedom and relief—but the term itself points to a structured, scheduled release from formal studies.

• 放 (fàng): This character's core meaning is “to release,” “to let go,” or “to set free.” Think of letting go of a balloon or releasing an animal.
• 学 (xué): This character means “to study,” “to learn,” or “schooling/studies.” It's the same character in words like 学生 (xuéshēng - student) and 学校 (xuéxiào - school).

When combined, 放学 (fàngxué) literally means “to release from studies.” This paints a clear picture: the school is “releasing” the students from their daily educational duties.

In China, “放学 (fàngxué)” is more than just the end of a day; it's a major daily logistical event and a cultural touchstone. For millions of families, the day revolves around the school schedule. The scene outside a Chinese primary school at `放学` time is iconic. You'll often see crowds of parents and, most notably, grandparents (爷爷奶奶, yéye nǎinai and 外公外婆, wàigōng wàipó) waiting patiently at the school gates. This reflects the deep involvement of the extended family in a child's upbringing and the high value placed on their safety and education. Comparison to Western Culture: While “getting out of school” in the West is also a daily routine, the post-`放学` activities can differ. An American student might take a bus home alone, go to a friend's house, or head to sports practice. In China, the path after `放学` is often more structured. A child is typically picked up by a family member and either goes straight home to do homework (作业, zuòyè) or is taken directly to a “cram school” (补习班, bǔxíbān) for additional lessons in subjects like math or English. This highlights a cultural emphasis on academic diligence and family supervision that extends beyond the official school day.

“放学” is an everyday term used in both spoken and written Chinese. It's informal but standard.

• Asking and Answering: It's most commonly used to ask about or state the time school ends.
  • A: “你几点放学？” (Nǐ jǐ diǎn fàngxué?) - “What time do you get out of school?”
  • B: “我下午五点放学。” (Wǒ xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn fàngxué.) - “I get out of school at 5 PM.”
• Making Plans: It's the anchor for making after-school plans.
  • “放学以后我们一起去打篮球吧！” (Fàngxué yǐhòu wǒmen yīqǐ qù dǎ lánqiú ba!) - “Let's go play basketball together after school is out!”
• Announcements: Schools use it in official notifications to parents.
  • “通知：明天下午提前到3点放学。” (Tōngzhī: Míngtiān xiàwǔ tíqián dào sān diǎn fàngxué.) - “Notice: Tomorrow, school will be dismissed early at 3 PM.”

• Example 1:
  • 你今天几点放学？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jīntiān jǐ diǎn fàngxué?
  • English: What time do you get out of school today?
  • Analysis: A very common and practical question you can ask any student.

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• Example 2:
  • 我放学以后要去上钢琴课。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ fàngxué yǐhòu yào qù shàng gāngqín kè.
  • English: I have to go to piano class after school gets out.
  • Analysis: Shows how “放学以后” (fàngxué yǐhòu - after school is out) is used to sequence events.

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• Example 3:
  • 放学了！我们回家吧！
  • Pinyin: Fàngxué le! Wǒmen huí jiā ba!
  • English: School's out! Let's go home!
  • Analysis: The particle “了 (le)” indicates a change of state—school wasn't out before, but it is now. This is a very natural way to announce it.

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• Example 4:
  • 每天放学的时候，校门口都挤满了家长。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān fàngxué de shíhòu, xiàoménkǒu dōu jǐ mǎnle jiāzhǎng.
  • English: Every day when school lets out, the school gate is crowded with parents.
  • Analysis: “的时候 (de shíhòu)” means “when” or “at the time of.” This sentence paints a vivid picture of the cultural context.

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• Example 5:
  • 他一放学就跑去网吧玩游戏。
  • Pinyin: Tā yī fàngxué jiù pǎo qù wǎngbā wán yóuxì.
  • English: As soon as school is out, he runs to the internet cafe to play games.
  • Analysis: The “一…就…” (yī…jiù…) structure means “as soon as…then…” It's perfect for describing an immediate action following `放学`.

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• Example 6:
  • 妈妈，今天可以来接我放学吗？
  • Pinyin: Māmā, jīntiān kěyǐ lái jiē wǒ fàngxué ma?
  • English: Mom, can you come pick me up from school today?
  • Analysis: “接 (jiē)” means “to pick someone up.” This is a key verb associated with the act of `放学`.

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• Example 7:
  • 因为下大雪，学校通知所有学生提前放学。
  • Pinyin: Yīnwèi xià dàxuě, xuéxiào tōngzhī suǒyǒu xuéshēng tíqián fàngxué.
  • English: Because of the heavy snow, the school notified all students that they would be dismissed early.
  • Analysis: “提前 (tíqián)” means “early” or “in advance,” often paired with `放学` for early dismissals.

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• Example 8:
  • 等你放学了，我们一起去吃晚饭。
  • Pinyin: Děng nǐ fàngxué le, wǒmen yīqǐ qù chī wǎnfàn.
  • English: When you get out of school, let's go eat dinner together.
  • Analysis: “等 (děng)” means “to wait for.” This is a common way to make plans that depend on someone finishing school.

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• Example 9:
  • 哥哥比我晚一个小时放学。
  • Pinyin: Gēgē bǐ wǒ wǎn yīgè xiǎoshí fàngxué.
  • English: My older brother finishes school one hour later than I do.
  • Analysis: Uses the “比 (bǐ)” comparison structure to compare `放学` times.

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• Example 10:
  • 终于放学了，今天作业好多啊！
  • Pinyin: Zhōngyú fàngxué le, jīntiān zuòyè hǎoduō a!
  • English: School is finally out, there's so much homework today!
  • Analysis: “终于 (zhōngyú)” means “finally,” expressing relief and a sense of having waited a long time.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 放学 (fàngxué) with 下课 (xiàkè).

• 放学 (fàngxué): The end of the ENTIRE school day. This happens only once per day.
• 下课 (xiàkè): The end of a single class period. This happens multiple times per day. (Literally: “down from class”).

Think of it this way: After you `下课`, you might have a 10-minute break before your next class. After you `放学`, you go home for the day. Incorrect Usage:

• Incorrect: 上午十点，我们放学了，休息了十分钟。 (Shàngwǔ shí diǎn, wǒmen fàngxuéle, xiūxíle shí fēnzhōng.)
• Why it's wrong: This sentence implies you finished school for the entire day at 10 AM, then took a break. It doesn't make sense.
• Correct: 上午十点，我们下课了，休息了十分钟。 (Shàngwǔ shí diǎn, wǒmen xiàkèle, xiūxíle shí fēnzhōng.) - “At 10 AM, our class ended, and we rested for ten minutes.”

Another confusion is 放学 (fàngxué) vs. 毕业 (bìyè).

• 放学 (fàngxué): Happens every day.
• 毕业 (bìyè): To graduate. Happens only once when you complete a level of education (e.g., high school, university).

• 上学 (shàngxué) - The direct antonym of `放学`; means “to go to school” or “to attend school.”
• 下课 (xiàkè) - To finish a single class period. Crucial to distinguish from `放学`.
• 放假 (fàngjià) - To have a day off, to be on holiday/vacation. Follows the same “放 (release) + noun” structure.
• 毕业 (bìyè) - To graduate. The final end of a course of study, not the daily end.
• 作业 (zuòyè) - Homework; what students often have to do after they `放学`.
• 补习班 (bǔxíbān) - Cram school or tutoring center; a very common destination for students after `放学`.
• 接孩子 (jiē háizi) - To pick up the children; the action many parents or grandparents take at `放学` time.
• 逃学 (táoxué) - To skip school, to play truant. The opposite of attending school properly.
• 寒假 (hánjià) - Winter vacation. A long period of `放假`.
• 暑假 (shǔjià) - Summer vacation. The longest school holiday.