Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== táoxué: 逃学 - To Skip School, To Play Truant ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 逃学, tao xue, skip school in Chinese, play truant Chinese, cut class in Chinese, Chinese word for skipping school, what is taoxue, Chinese education, student life in China, 旷课, 翘课 * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese term **逃学 (táoxué)**, the direct equivalent of "to skip school" or "play truant." This page breaks down the characters 逃 (to escape) and 学 (study), explores the deep cultural significance of academic diligence in China, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover the difference between an unauthorized absence (逃学) and taking approved leave (请假), and learn related terms like the more formal 旷课 (kuàngkè). This is a must-know term for anyone interested in modern Chinese student life and culture. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** táo xué * **Part of Speech:** Verb (Verb-Object compound) * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** To deliberately miss school or a class without permission. * **In a Nutshell:** **逃学 (táoxué)** is the go-to term for "skipping school." It's formed by combining "to escape" (逃) and "school/studies" (学). The term carries a distinctly negative and mischievous connotation, implying a conscious decision to run away from one's academic duties. It's not just about being absent; it's about the act of //escaping// your responsibilities as a student. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **逃 (táo):** This character means "to escape," "to flee," or "to run away." It's composed of the radical 辶 (chuò), which signifies movement or walking, and 兆 (zhào), which provides the sound. You can think of it as using your feet (辶) to run away from something. * **学 (xué):** This character means "to study," "to learn," or "school." The top part represents a roof and the character 子 (zǐ) inside represents a child. It paints a picture of a child learning under a roof, which is the core concept of schooling. When you combine them, **逃学 (táoxué)** literally and vividly means "to escape from studying" or "to flee school." ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In many Western cultures, skipping school is often portrayed in media (like //Ferris Bueller's Day Off//) as a rite of passage or a lighthearted act of youthful rebellion. In China, **逃学 (táoxué)** carries a much heavier cultural weight. The Chinese education system is famously rigorous, with immense pressure on students to succeed, culminating in the life-altering university entrance exam, the **高考 (gāokǎo)**. Education is traditionally seen as the primary path to a good career, social mobility, and bringing honor to one's family. Therefore, **逃学** is not just seen as laziness; it can be viewed as: * A serious dereliction of a child's primary duty. * A waste of the family's significant financial and emotional investment in their education. * A sign of disrespect towards parents and teachers. While students are still students and the act itself happens everywhere, the reaction from authority figures—parents and teachers—is often much more severe than in the West. The act is less about "finding yourself" and more about "failing your responsibilities." ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **逃学 (táoxué)** is a common, everyday term used in informal contexts among students, parents, and teachers. * **Connotation:** It is almost always negative. Accusing someone of **逃学** is a serious claim. * **Formality:** It's used in daily conversation. In a formal report or official school document, the term **旷课 (kuàngkè)**, meaning "to be absent from class without leave," is more likely to be used. * **Scope:** It can refer to skipping a single class or an entire day of school. To specify a single class, you can say **逃了一节课 (táo le yī jié kè)** - "skipped one period of class." ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 他今天生病了，不是**逃学**。 * Pinyin: Tā jīntiān shēngbìng le, bùshì **táoxué**. * English: He is sick today, he didn't skip school. * Analysis: This sentence highlights the key difference between a legitimate absence and **逃学**. * **Example 2:** * 你为什么昨天**逃学**去看电影？ * Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme zuótiān **táoxué** qù kàn diànyǐng? * English: Why did you skip school to go to the movies yesterday? * Analysis: A typical question from an angry parent or teacher. The structure is "Why did you [逃学] to do [something else]?" * **Example 3:** * 小明因为害怕考试而**逃学**了。 * Pinyin: Xiǎo Míng yīnwèi hàipà kǎoshì ér **táoxué** le. * English: Xiao Ming skipped school because he was afraid of the exam. * Analysis: This shows a common reason for **逃学** – avoiding academic pressure. The "因为...而..." (yīnwèi...ér...) structure means "because of...consequently...". * **Example 4:** * 别**逃学**！老师会给你父母打电话的。 * Pinyin: Bié **táoxué**! Lǎoshī huì gěi nǐ fùmǔ dǎ diànhuà de. * English: Don't skip school! The teacher will call your parents. * Analysis: A common warning, demonstrating the likely consequences of the action. * **Example 5:** * 我承认，我上中学的时候**逃**过几次**学**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ chéngrèn, wǒ shàng zhōngxué de shíhòu **táo** guò jǐ cì **xué**. * English: I admit, I skipped school a few times when I was in middle school. * Analysis: The verb-object nature of **逃学** allows it to be split. Here, "过 (guò)" is inserted to indicate past experience. * **Example 6:** * 他们一群人经常一起**逃学**去网吧。 * Pinyin: Tāmen yī qún rén jīngcháng yīqǐ **táoxué** qù wǎngbā. * English: That group of them often skips school together to go to the internet cafe. * Analysis: This illustrates a common scenario in modern China, where internet cafes (网吧 - wǎngbā) are a popular destination for truant students. * **Example 7:** * 为了去见他最喜欢的明星，他决定**逃学**。 * Pinyin: Wèile qù jiàn tā zuì xǐhuān de míngxīng, tā juédìng **táoxué**. * English: In order to see his favorite celebrity, he decided to skip school. * Analysis: The "为了... (wèile...)" structure shows the purpose or motivation behind the action. * **Example 8:** * **逃学**不是解决问题的好办法。 * Pinyin: **Táoxué** bùshì jiějué wèntí de hǎo bànfǎ. * English: Skipping school is not a good way to solve problems. * Analysis: Here, **逃学** is used as the subject of the sentence, functioning like a noun ("The act of skipping school..."). * **Example 9:** * 我只是**逃**了下午的体育课，不是一整天。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐshì **táo** le xiàwǔ de tǐyùkè, bùshì yī zhěng tiān. * English: I only skipped the afternoon gym class, not the whole day. * Analysis: This shows how you can specify //what// was skipped. **逃了...课 (táo le... kè)** means "skipped ... class." * **Example 10:** * 他的**逃学**行为让父母非常失望。 * Pinyin: Tā de **táoxué** xíngwéi ràng fùmǔ fēicháng shīwàng. * English: His truant behavior made his parents extremely disappointed. * Analysis: **逃学行为 (táoxué xíngwéi)** means "truant behavior" or "the act of skipping school." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`逃学 (táoxué)` vs. `请假 (qǐngjià)`:** This is the most critical distinction for a learner. They are not interchangeable. * **逃学 (táoxué):** To be absent //without permission//. It's secretive and wrong. * **请假 (qǐngjià):** To ask for leave //with permission//. This is the proper way to be absent. * **Incorrect:** ~~我今天不舒服，所以逃学了。~~ (Wǒ jīntiān bù shūfú, suǒyǐ táoxué le.) -> This sounds like you used being sick as a secret excuse to skip school. * **Correct:** 我今天不舒服，所以**请假**了。(Wǒ jīntiān bù shūfú, suǒyǐ **qǐngjià** le.) -> "I'm not feeling well today, so I took a leave of absence." * **`逃学 (táoxué)` vs. `旷课 (kuàngkè)`:** These are very similar, but with a difference in formality and nuance. * **逃学 (táoxué):** Colloquial, common in speech. Emphasizes the student's action of "escaping." * **旷课 (kuàngkè):** More formal, often used in written reports or by school officials. It literally means "absent from class" and focuses on the fact of the absence itself. You are more likely to see **旷课** on your school report card. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[旷课]] (kuàngkè) - A more formal synonym for skipping class, often used in official contexts. * [[翘课]] (qiàokè) - A very popular and informal slang term for "cutting class," especially common among students themselves. * [[请假]] (qǐngjià) - The opposite concept: to ask for an approved leave of absence. * [[上学]] (shàngxué) - The direct antonym: to go to school, to attend school. * [[迟到]] (chídào) - A lesser offense: to be late or tardy. * [[早退]] (zǎotuì) - Another related offense: to leave early without permission. * [[高考]] (gāokǎo) - The National College Entrance Examination, the high-stakes exam that creates the intense pressure that might lead to **逃学**. * [[作业]] (zuòyè) - Homework; a mountain of it can be a reason a student might want to **逃学**. * [[挂科]] (guàkē) - To fail a course; a potential consequence of too much **逃学**. * [[网吧]] (wǎngbā) - Internet cafe; a stereotypically common destination for students who are skipping school.