Meaning and Usage
"下课" literally means "to finish class" or "class ends." It is commonly used to indicate the time when a lesson or class session is over.
Common Contexts
You will hear "下课" in schools, language classes, or any learning environment. It can refer to the moment the teacher dismisses the class or the scheduled end time.
Typical Collocations
- 下课铃 (class dismissal bell): the bell signaling the end of class
- 下课后 (after class): used to talk about activities following the end of a lesson
Usage Notes
"下课" is a verb phrase and usually appears as a predicate or in time expressions. It is not used to mean "to skip class" or "to quit school." Avoid confusing it with "放学," which means the end of the school day rather than a single class.
Summary
Use "下课" to talk about the end of a lesson or class period. It is a very common phrase in educational settings and useful for discussing schedules and daily routines.