kuàngkè: 旷课 - To Skip Class, To Be Truant, To Cut Class [The Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== kuàngkè: 旷课 - To Skip Class, To Be Truant, To Cut Class ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** kuang ke, kuàngkè, 旷课, skip class in Chinese, cut class Chinese, truant in Chinese, Chinese word for skipping school, 旷课 meaning, 逃课, 请假.
  * **Summary:** **旷课 (kuàngkè)** is the essential Chinese verb for "to skip class" or "to cut class." It describes the act of deliberately being absent from school or a lesson without permission. In the context of Chinese culture, which places immense value on education and diligence, **旷课 (kuàngkè)** carries a strong negative connotation of irresponsibility and disrespect. This page will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use for learners.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** kuàng kè
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb (Verb-Object compound)
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To be absent from a class or school without authorization.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **旷课 (kuàngkè)** as the direct equivalent of "cutting class," "playing hooky," or "truancy." It's not for when you're sick and have a doctor's note. This word specifically implies a willful, unexcused absence. It's the action a student takes when they decide going to the internet cafe is more important than their math lesson, and it's always viewed negatively by teachers and parents.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **旷 (kuàng):** This character's original meaning is "vast," "spacious," or "empty." It can also mean "to neglect" or "to waste time." Picture a vast, empty field where something should be. In this word, it carries the sense of neglecting one's duty.
  * **课 (kè):** This character is straightforward and means "class," "lesson," or "subject."
  * The two characters combine literally to mean "to neglect a lesson" or "to leave a class empty," which perfectly captures the modern meaning of intentionally skipping it.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * In Chinese culture, education is often seen as the primary path to success and a way to bring honor to one's family. The pressure to perform well in school, culminating in the high-stakes //gaokao// (高考) college entrance exam, is immense. Therefore, attending every class is considered a student's fundamental duty and a sign of respect for their teachers and the sacrifices their parents have made.
  * **Comparison to Western Culture:** While "cutting class" is frowned upon in the West, it's sometimes portrayed in media as a common, almost rite-of-passage form of teenage rebellion. In China, **旷课 (kuàngkè)** is treated with far more gravity. It's rarely seen as a harmless act of rebellion but rather as a serious character flaw—a sign of laziness, disrespect for authority, and a failure to uphold one's responsibility to their family. A student who regularly engages in **旷课 (kuàngkè)** might be labeled a "bad student" (坏学生, huài xuéshēng), a label that has significant social consequences.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **旷课 (kuàngkè)** is a standard term used in all educational settings, from primary school to university.
  * **Connotation:** It is unequivocally negative. There is no context in which **旷课 (kuàngkè)** is a good thing.
  * **Formality:** The term is used in both formal and informal situations. A teacher will use it in a formal report to a parent ("您的孩子今天旷课了" - "Your child skipped class today"), and students will use it when talking amongst themselves ("我们下午旷课去打游戏吧" - "Let's skip class this afternoon to go play games").
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他昨天下午**旷课**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā zuótiān xiàwǔ **kuàngkè** le.
    * English: He skipped class yesterday afternoon.
    * Analysis: A simple, direct statement of fact. This is the most common way you'll see the term used.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你为什么想**旷课**？老师会生气的。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme xiǎng **kuàngkè**? Lǎoshī huì shēngqì de.
    * English: Why do you want to skip class? The teacher will get angry.
    * Analysis: This sentence is a warning, highlighting the negative consequences associated with the action.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 如果你再**旷课**，我就要给你父母打电话了。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ zài **kuàngkè**, wǒ jiù yào gěi nǐ fùmǔ dǎ diànhuà le.
    * English: If you skip class again, I'm going to have to call your parents.
    * Analysis: A classic teacher's threat. Note the use of 再 (zài) to mean "again."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他为了去网吧打游戏而**旷课**。
    * Pinyin: Tā wèile qù wǎngbā dǎ yóuxì ér **kuàngkè**.
    * English: He skipped class in order to go to the internet cafe and play games.
    * Analysis: The structure 为了...而... (wèile...ér...) is used here to clearly state the reason or purpose for the action.
  * **Example 5:**
    * **旷课**不是一个好习惯，会影响你的成绩。
    * Pinyin: **Kuàngkè** bùshì yīgè hǎo xíguàn, huì yǐngxiǎng nǐ de chéngjī.
    * English: Skipping class is not a good habit; it will affect your grades.
    * Analysis: Here, **旷课 (kuàngkè)** functions as the subject of the sentence, like a noun ("The act of skipping class...").
  * **Example 6:**
    * 学校规定，**旷课**三次的学生会受到处分。
    * Pinyin: Xuéxiào guīdìng, **kuàngkè** sāncì de xuéshēng huì shòudào chǔfèn.
    * English: The school rules state that students who skip class three times will be punished.
    * Analysis: This shows the formal, administrative use of the term in school regulations.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 小明最近常常**旷课**，他是不是遇到什么问题了？
    * Pinyin: Xiǎomíng zuìjìn chángcháng **kuàngkè**, tā shì bùshì yùdào shénme wèntí le?
    * English: Xiao Ming has been skipping class a lot recently. Did he run into some kind of problem?
    * Analysis: This shows how frequent **旷课 (kuàngkè)** can be seen as a symptom of a larger issue.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 你别骗我了，我知道你昨天是**旷课**，不是生病。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ bié piàn wǒ le, wǒ zhīdào nǐ zuótiān shì **kuàngkè**, bùshì shēngbìng.
    * English: Stop lying to me, I know you skipped class yesterday, you weren't sick.
    * Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts **旷课 (kuàngkè)** with a legitimate reason for absence (生病, shēngbìng - being sick).
  * **Example 9:**
    * 我们都不应该有**旷课**的想法。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu bù yìnggāi yǒu **kuàngkè** de xiǎngfǎ.
    * English: None of us should even have the thought of skipping class.
    * Analysis: This emphasizes the cultural ideal that even thinking about skipping class is wrong.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这节课太无聊了，真想**旷课**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jié kè tài wúliáo le, zhēn xiǎng **kuàngkè**.
    * English: This class is so boring, I really want to skip it.
    * Analysis: A common, informal complaint among students, even if they don't actually act on it.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **旷课 (kuàngkè) vs. 请假 (qǐngjià):** This is the most critical distinction for a learner. They are not interchangeable.
    * **旷课 (kuàngkè):** Unauthorized absence. You decided not to go, and you didn't have permission. It's "cutting class."
    * **请假 (qǐngjià):** Authorized absence. You formally requested leave (for sickness, a family matter, etc.) and it was approved. It's "taking a day off."
    * **Incorrect Usage:** `我昨天生病了，所以我旷课了。` (Wǒ zuótiān shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ wǒ kuàngkè le.) - This is wrong. It sounds like you used being sick as an excuse to do something wrong.
    * **Correct Usage:** `我昨天生病了，所以我请假了。` (Wǒ zuótiān shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ wǒ qǐngjià le.) - This is correct. "I was sick yesterday, so I took a leave of absence."
  * **旷课 (kuàngkè) vs. 逃课 (táokè):** These two are very close synonyms and often used interchangeably by native speakers.
    * `逃课 (táokè)` literally means "to escape class." It can feel slightly more active and vivid, like a prisoner escaping a cell.
    * `旷课 (kuàngkè)` means "to neglect class." It can feel a bit more formal and emphasizes the neglect of duty.
    * For a beginner, you can treat them as nearly identical in meaning and negative connotation.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[请假]] (qǐngjià) - To ask for leave/time off. The proper, authorized way to be absent.
  * [[逃课]] (táokè) - A very common synonym for **旷课**; "to escape class."
  * [[翘课]] (qiàokè) - A more informal, slangy term for skipping class, meaning "to lift/raise up class."
  * [[迟到]] (chídào) - To be late, to arrive late for class. A less severe offense than **旷课**.
  * [[早退]] (zǎotuì) - To leave early from class or work. Also less severe than a full **旷课**.
  * [[上课]] (shàngkè) - The opposite: to attend class, to go to class.
  * [[下课]] (xiàkè) - Class is over, to finish class.
  * [[坏学生]] (huài xuéshēng) - "Bad student," a label often given to students who frequently **旷课**.
  * [[处分]] (chǔfèn) - Punishment, disciplinary action (the consequence of **旷课**).
  * [[作业]] (zuòyè) - Homework. Sometimes the reason a student might skip a different class (to finish it) or the consequence of skipping (missing the assignment).