Chinese word

补课

Pronunciation

Pinyinbǔ kè

Meaning

  • verbtake an extra class

Example

我今天要去补课。wǒ jīn tiān yào qù bǔ kè

I am going to take an extra class today.

Illustration for 补课 (take an extra class)

More examples

周末我去给妹妹补课，教她数学。zhōu mò wǒ qù gěi mèi mèi bǔ kè jiāo tā shù xué

On weekends, I go to give my younger sister extra lessons and teach her math.

Core concept

Extra teaching fills a gap in learning, whether it happens in a group class or with a tutor.

Common phrases

  • 去补课qù bǔ kè

    go for extra lessons

  • 上补课shàng bǔ kè

    take remedial lessons

  • 给学生补课gěi xué shēng bǔ kè

    give students remedial lessons

Similar words

补习bǔ xí: Get extra lessons from a tutor or tutoring center to catch up on learning.
复习fù xí: Review material already learned to improve understanding or memory.
旁听páng tīng: Sit in on a class without being officially enrolled, simply to listen.
补考bú kǎo: Take an exam again later after missing it or failing it.

Definition in Chinese

针对缺课、未掌握或需复习的知识，通过课外的追加授课或一对一辅导来补足学习内容的行为。zhēn duì quē kè wèi zhǎng wò huò xū fù xí de zhī shí tōng guò kè wài de zhuī jiā shòu kè huò yí duì yì fú dǎo lái bǔ zú xué xí nèi róng de xíng wéi

Word origin

补课 (bǔkè, "make up lessons") combines 补 (bǔ, "fill") + 课 (kè, "lesson"), linking added teaching with a gap in learning.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect a missed lesson to be rescheduled, but this verb also covers extra teaching for review or material that was not understood.

Other meanings

  • make-up classnoun

Opposites

  • 逃课táo kècut classverb
  • 缺课quē kèbe absent from classverb

Related words

  • 补课班bǔ kè bānremedial classnoun
  • 补课老师bǔ kè lǎo shīprivate tutornoun
  • 补课费bǔ kè fèiextra-class feenoun

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