jiàokēshū: 教科书 - Textbook, Schoolbook

• Keywords: jiaokeshu, 教科书, Chinese textbook, what is a textbook in Chinese, schoolbook in Chinese, jiao ke shu meaning, Chinese for textbook, HSK textbook, Chinese education
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 教科书 (jiàokēshū), which means “textbook” or “schoolbook.” This page breaks down the characters 教 (teach), 科 (subject), and 书 (book) to reveal its logical meaning. Discover how the concept of a textbook is deeply tied to the cultural importance of education in China, and understand its practical use in modern classrooms, from primary school to university. With 10 practical example sentences, this guide is perfect for any beginner learning about school life and education in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiàokēshū
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A book containing a comprehensive compilation of content in a branch of study, used for formal education.
• In a Nutshell: 教科书 (jiàokēshū) is the standard, direct word for a textbook. It's what students carry in their backpacks, what teachers assign homework from, and what final exams are based on. It's a neutral, functional term that refers to the official book for any academic subject like math, history, or Chinese.

• 教 (jiào): To teach, instruction. This character is composed of 孝 (xiào - filial piety) and a “hand” radical (攵), depicting an elder guiding a child—the essence of teaching.
• 科 (kē): Subject, department, or a branch of study. Think of it as a category or classification of knowledge, like in the word 科学 (kēxué - science).
• 书 (shū): Book. A simple and ancient character that originally depicted a hand holding a writing brush.

When combined, the meaning is incredibly logical: 教 (teach) + 科 (subject) + 书 (book) = “A book for a teaching subject,” or simply, a textbook.

In Chinese culture, education (教育 - jiàoyù) is seen as one of the most important paths to success, respect, and social mobility. This belief has deep roots, tracing back to the ancient imperial examination system (科举 - kējǔ), where scholars could become powerful government officials by mastering classic texts. The 教科书 (jiàokēshū) is the modern embodiment of this tradition. It is not just a tool for learning; it represents the official, authoritative, and standardized body of knowledge that a student must master. Comparison to “Textbook” in the West: While functionally the same, the cultural weight is different. In the United States, textbook selection can be a very localized decision, with different states or even school districts choosing from various commercial publishers. This results in a wide diversity of materials. In China, especially for primary and secondary education (K-12), textbooks are often nationally standardized and state-approved. The content of a history or language 教科书 is carefully curated by the Ministry of Education. This reflects a more centralized approach, ensuring that all students across the country are learning from a unified curriculum. Therefore, the 教科书 is often seen as the single source of truth for a subject, the foundation upon which everything else is built.

教科书 (jiàokēshū) is used in any context related to formal education.

• In the Classroom: This is its most common environment. Teachers will say “请打开你们的教科书” (qǐng dǎkāi nǐmen de jiàokēshū) - “Please open your textbooks.”
• Buying and Selling: Students buy new 教科书 at the beginning of a semester and often sell their used ones at the end.
• Metaphorical Use: Just like in English, it can be used metaphorically to describe something that is a perfect or classic example. A “textbook case” is a 教科书式 的案例 (jiàokēshū shì de ànlì). This usage is less common in daily conversation but is understood.
• Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although in casual speech, the shorter term 课本 (kèběn) is also very common.

• Example 1:
  • 这是我的汉语教科书。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ de Hànyǔ jiàokēshū.
  • English: This is my Chinese textbook.
  • Analysis: A simple, declarative sentence using 是 (shì) to identify an object. Perfect for a beginner.
• Example 2:
  • 新学期我需要买五本新的教科书。
  • Pinyin: Xīn xuéqī wǒ xūyào mǎi wǔ běn xīn de jiàokēshū.
  • English: I need to buy five new textbooks for the new semester.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the measure word 本 (běn) for books. Remember to use a measure word between a number and a noun in Chinese.
• Example 3:
  • 老师，我忘了带历史教科书。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, wǒ wàng le dài lìshǐ jiàokēshū.
  • English: Teacher, I forgot to bring my history textbook.
  • Analysis: A common situation for students. 忘了 (wàng le) means “forgot,” and 带 (dài) means “to bring.”
• Example 4:
  • 请把教科书翻到第五十页。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ jiàokēshū fāndào dì wǔshí yè.
  • English: Please turn the textbook to page 50.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the 把 (bǎ) construction, which is common for giving commands that involve doing something to an object. “把 + [object] + [verb phrase]”.
• Example 5:
  • 这本教科书的内容有点过时了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn jiàokēshū de nèiróng yǒudiǎn guòshí le.
  • English: The content of this textbook is a bit outdated.
  • Analysis: A useful sentence for expressing an opinion. 有点 (yǒudiǎn) means “a bit,” and 过时 (guòshí) means “outdated” or “old-fashioned.”
• Example 6:
  • 考试的范围是教科书的前三章。
  • Pinyin: Kǎoshì de fànwéi shì jiàokēshū de qián sān zhāng.
  • English: The scope of the exam is the first three chapters of the textbook.
  • Analysis: This shows how central the textbook is to academics. 范围 (fànwéi) means “scope” or “range,” and 章 (zhāng) is the measure word for chapters.
• Example 7:
  • 他的危机处理方式是教科书级别的。
  • Pinyin: Tā de wēijī chǔlǐ fāngshì shì jiàokēshū jíbié de.
  • English: His way of handling the crisis was textbook-level (i.e., a perfect example).
  • Analysis: This is an excellent example of the metaphorical use of 教科书. 级别 (jíbié) means “level” or “class,” so this phrase means it's a “textbook-class” example.
• Example 8:
  • 你不能只依赖教科书，也应该读一些课外书。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng zhǐ yīlài jiàokēshū, yě yīnggāi dú yīxiē kèwàishū.
  • English: You can't just rely on the textbook; you should also read some extracurricular books.
  • Analysis: This sentence contrasts the 教科书 with 课外书 (kèwàishū - extracurricular books), highlighting its specific meaning. 依赖 (yīlài) means “to rely on.”
• Example 9:
  • 这本教科书的解释非常清楚，很容易懂。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn jiàokēshū de jiěshì fēicháng qīngchu, hěn róngyì dǒng.
  • English: The explanations in this textbook are very clear and easy to understand.
  • Analysis: A sentence praising a textbook. 清楚 (qīngchu) means “clear,” and 容易懂 (róngyì dǒng) means “easy to understand.”
• Example 10:
  • 电子教科书现在越来越普遍了。
  • Pinyin: Diànzǐ jiàokēshū xiànzài yuèláiyuè pǔbiàn le.
  • English: Electronic textbooks are becoming more and more common now.
  • Analysis: This shows how the word adapts to modern technology. 电子 (diànzǐ) means “electronic.”

• 教科书 (jiàokēshū) vs. 书 (shū): The most common mistake for learners is using 教科书 to refer to any book. Remember, a 教科书 is specifically a textbook for an academic course. A novel, a dictionary, or a comic book are all just 书 (shū).
  • Incorrect: 我周末读了一本有趣的教科书关于太空旅行。 (I read an interesting textbook about space travel on the weekend.)
  • Why it's wrong: Unless it was a physics or astronomy textbook for a class, this sounds very strange. You're implying you read a schoolbook for fun.
  • Correct: 我周末读了一本关于太空旅行的书。 (I read a book about space travel on the weekend.)
• 教科书 (jiàokēshū) vs. 课本 (kèběn): These two words are very close in meaning. 课本 (kèběn), literally “class book,” is also a textbook. They are often used interchangeably. Some native speakers feel that 课本 is slightly more colloquial and common in everyday speech, especially when referring to K-12 books, while 教科书 can sound a bit more formal or encompass university-level texts. As a learner, you can use either and be understood perfectly.

• 课本 (kèběn) - A very common synonym for textbook, literally “class book.” Often used interchangeably with 教科书.
• 教材 (jiàocái) - Teaching materials. This is a broader term that includes not just textbooks but also workbooks, software, videos, and presentations.
• 参考书 (cānkǎoshū) - Reference book. This is a supplementary book, like a study guide or encyclopedia, that you consult for more information, not the main course text.
• 练习册 (liànxícè) - Workbook or exercise book. A book filled with practice problems that often accompanies a textbook.
• 课程 (kèchéng) - A course or curriculum. The subject for which a 教科书 is written.
• 学生 (xuésheng) - Student. The primary user of a 教科书.
• 老师 (lǎoshī) - Teacher. The person who uses the 教科书 to instruct students.
• 考试 (kǎoshì) - Exam/test. The content of an exam is almost always based on the 教科书.
• 文具 (wénjù) - Stationery. Items like pens, pencils, and notebooks that are used alongside a textbook.