guàkē: 挂科 - To Fail a Course/Exam

Keywords: guake, gua ke, 挂科, fail a class in Chinese, fail a course Chinese, what does guake mean, Chinese school slang, passing and failing in China, Chinese university slang, academic failure China

Summary: Discover the meaning of 挂科 (guàkē), a crucial and dreaded slang term in the Chinese academic world for “failing a course.” This guide breaks down its literal meaning (“to hang a subject”), explores the immense cultural pressure behind it, and provides practical examples for students learning Chinese. Learn why 挂科 (guàkē) is more than just a bad grade—it's a significant cultural concept tied to family expectations and personal face.

Pinyin (with tone marks): guà kē

Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (commonly used as a verb)

HSK Level: N/A (Extremely common and essential slang for anyone in the Chinese education system)

Concise Definition: To fail an academic course for a semester or term.

In a Nutshell: 挂科 (guàkē) is the ultimate nightmare for a Chinese student. It doesn't just mean you did poorly on one test; it means you've failed the entire subject for the semester. The term vividly paints a picture of your academic progress for that subject being “hung up” and suspended, forcing you to face consequences like make-up exams or even retaking the entire course. It's an informal, but universally understood, term loaded with stress and disappointment.

挂 (guà): To hang, to suspend, to put up. Imagine hanging a picture on a wall or hanging up a phone call. In this context, it implies that your progress in the subject is “hung up” and cannot move forward.

科 (kē): An academic subject, a course, or a department. For example, 数学科 (shùxuékē) is the “subject of math,” and 科学 (kēxué) is “science.”

The two characters combine to create a powerful metaphor: 挂科 (guàkē) literally means “to hang a subject.” This visualises the finality of failing a course—it's been put on hold, suspended, and you are stuck until you can fix it.

The Weight of Expectation: In Chinese culture, education is often seen as the primary path to success and social mobility. Families invest enormous financial and emotional resources into a child's education. Therefore, to 挂科 (guàkē) is not merely a personal academic setback. It can carry a heavy weight of letting one's family down and can be a source of significant shame and a “loss of face” (面子, miànzi).

Comparison to Western Culture: While failing a class in the U.S. or Europe is certainly undesirable, it's often viewed as a more individual problem. The student might be disappointed, but it doesn't typically bring the same level of familial shame or perceived failure. In China, the pressure is more collective. A student's success or failure is often seen as a reflection on the entire family. The response to hearing “I failed a class” in the West might be “Oh, that's tough, what's your plan?” In China, the reaction can be much more severe, involving intense disappointment and concern from parents.

The Aftermath: The fear of 挂科 (guàkē) drives much of the intense study culture seen in Chinese universities. The immediate consequence is usually a 补考 (bǔkǎo), or make-up exam. Failing that can lead to 重修 (chóngxiū), retaking the entire course, which costs time, money, and can delay graduation.

Informal Slang: 挂科 (guàkē) is primarily used by students in high school and university. It's conversational, informal, and ubiquitous on campus, in dorms, and on social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo. You would not see this term in a formal academic transcript, which would use more official phrasing like `不及格 (bù jígé)`.

Connotation: The connotation is always negative, filled with dread, anxiety, or post-failure disappointment. It can be used when worrying about a future result (“I'm so scared I'm going to fail”) or stating a past one (“I failed my history class”).

As a Verb: It functions directly as a verb. A student will say “我挂科了” (Wǒ guàkē le - “I failed a course”).

Course Failure vs. Test Failure: This is the most critical distinction. English speakers use “fail” for everything (a quiz, a test, a paper, a course). 挂科 (guàkē) is used almost exclusively for failing the entire course at the end of a semester/term. For failing a single test, you should use 考试不及格 (kǎoshì bù jígé).

及格 (jígé) - To pass (an exam or course). The direct antonym of failing.

补考 (bǔkǎo) - A make-up exam. The first chance to redeem yourself after you 挂科.

重修 (chóngxiū) - To retake a course. The more serious consequence if you fail the course and the make-up exam.

学分 (xuéfēn) - Academic credits. You don't earn these when you 挂科, which can impact graduation.

翘课 (qiàokè) - To skip class. A common cause of 挂科.

学霸 (xuébà) - “Study Tyrant” or top student. The person who never has to worry about 挂科.

学渣 (xuézhā) - “Study Dregs” or slacker student. The person who is at high risk of 挂科.

挂科率 (guàkē lǜ) - The failure rate. A statistic often discussed by students about certain notoriously difficult courses or strict professors.

成绩单 (chéngjìdān) - Transcript / Report Card. The official document where the result of a 挂科 (formally written as `不及格`) appears.