bǔxí: 补习 - Tutoring, Cram School, After-School Lessons

• Keywords: buxi, 补习, Chinese tutoring, Chinese cram school, what is buxi, after-school classes in China, gaokao preparation, Chinese education system, supplementary lessons, extra study
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 补习 (bǔxí), a core concept in the Chinese education system. More than just “tutoring,” `bǔxí` refers to the widespread practice of attending after-school lessons or “cram schools” to gain a competitive edge. This guide explores its cultural significance, practical usage, and its role in the high-stakes environment of exams like the `gaokao`, making it an essential term for understanding modern Chinese life and culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǔxí
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To take or give supplementary lessons after regular school hours to improve academic performance.
• In a Nutshell: `补习` is the act of engaging in extra, focused study outside of the standard school curriculum. While it can mean “remedial tutoring” for a struggling student, it more often refers to the highly common practice for students of all levels to get ahead of their peers. It's a key feature of the competitive academic culture in China and other East Asian societies.

• 补 (bǔ): This character means “to mend,” “to patch,” or “to supplement.” Think of it like patching a hole in your clothes or adding a supplement to your diet to make up for something that's missing.
• 习 (xí): This character means “to practice” or “to study.” It's the same `习` found in `学习 (xuéxí - to study/learn)`. Pictorially, it's related to feathers (羽), originally depicting a young bird repeatedly flapping its wings to learn how to fly.
• Together, 补习 (bǔxí) literally means “to supplement one's practice” or “to mend one's studies.” It perfectly captures the idea of filling in knowledge gaps or reinforcing learning through extra practice outside of the classroom.

`补习` is not just an activity; it's a cultural phenomenon deeply embedded in the modern Chinese pursuit of success through education. The primary driver for the massive `补习` industry is the extreme academic pressure faced by students, culminating in the life-altering 高考 (gāokǎo), the national college entrance exam. A student's score on this single test can determine their entire future, from which university they can attend to their future career prospects. In this context, `补习` is rarely seen as a remedial measure for “bad” students, which is often the perception of tutoring in the West. Instead, it's viewed as a necessary investment for everyone. Average students take `补习` to keep up, good students take it to become great, and great students take it to secure their spot at a top university. It's an essential tool in an educational arms race. This intense competition is often described by the modern buzzword 内卷 (nèijuǎn), or “involution,” and `补习` is a classic example of it. While Western “tutoring” is often one-on-one and focused on a specific weakness, Chinese `补习` can take many forms, from private tutors (家教, jiājiào) to large, lecture-hall-style “cram schools” (补习班, bǔxíbān) where hundreds of students review exam material together. The focus is often less on holistic understanding and more on mastering test-taking strategies to maximize scores. In 2021, the Chinese government introduced the “double reduction” policy (双减, shuāngjiǎn) to curb the for-profit `补习` industry and ease the burden on students. While this has changed the landscape, the underlying cultural emphasis on academic achievement and the demand for `补习` remain strong.

`补习` can be used as both a verb (“to go for tutoring”) and a noun (“tutoring”).

• As a Verb: It describes the action of attending extra lessons.
  • `我今晚要去补习数学。` (Wǒ jīn wǎn yào qù bǔxí shùxué.) - “I have to go for math tutoring tonight.”
• As a Noun: It refers to the concept or industry of supplementary education.
  • `现在的补习太贵了。` (Xiànzài de bǔxí tài guì le.) - “Tutoring is too expensive nowadays.”

The term is used ubiquitously by students, parents, and educators. A parent might ask their child, “Do you need to `补习` English?” A student might complain to a friend, “My weekends are filled with `补习`.” It's a neutral term, but the feeling associated with it can be negative (a burden, a chore) or positive (a chance to improve).

• Example 1:
  • 为了准备高考，他每个周末都去补习。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi gāokǎo, tā měi ge zhōumò dōu qù bǔxí.
  • English: In order to prepare for the Gaokao, he goes to tutoring every weekend.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example showing the direct link between `补习` and high-stakes exams.
• Example 2:
  • 妈妈给我找了一个英语补习老师。
  • Pinyin: Māma gěi wǒ zhǎo le yí ge Yīngyǔ bǔxí lǎoshī.
  • English: My mom found an English tutor for me.
  • Analysis: Here, `补习` acts as an adjective modifying `老师 (lǎoshī - teacher)` to mean “tutor.”
• Example 3:
  • 我的数学太差了，得找个地方补习一下。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de shùxué tài chà le, děi zhǎo ge dìfang bǔxí yíxià.
  • English: My math is terrible, I need to find a place to get some tutoring.
  • Analysis: This shows the remedial use of `补习` for a subject a student is struggling with. `一下 (yíxià)` softens the tone, making it sound more casual.
• Example 4:
  • 你觉得有必要给小学生报补习班吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde yǒu bìyào gěi xiǎoxuéshēng bào bǔxíbān ma?
  • English: Do you think it's necessary to enroll elementary school students in cram school?
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the common compound `补习班 (bǔxíbān - cram school/tutoring center)` and touches on the social debate around starting `补习` at a young age.
• Example 5:
  • 补习占用了我所有的课余时间。
  • Pinyin: Bǔxí zhànyòng le wǒ suǒyǒu de kèyú shíjiān.
  • English: Tutoring takes up all of my after-school time.
  • Analysis: Here, `补习` is the subject of the sentence, used as a noun to represent the entire activity. This conveys a common complaint among students.
• Example 6:
  • 他不是在学校，就是在去补习的路上。
  • Pinyin: Tā búshì zài xuéxiào, jiùshì zài qù bǔxí de lùshang.
  • English: If he's not at school, he's on his way to tutoring.
  • Analysis: A common and slightly exaggerated phrase to describe the busy life of a student heavily involved in `补习`.
• Example 7:
  • 这家机构的补习效果非常好，很多学生都提高了成绩。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā jīgòu de bǔxí xiàoguǒ fēicháng hǎo, hěn duō xuéshēng dōu tígāo le chéngjì.
  • English: The effectiveness of this institution's tutoring is excellent; many students have improved their grades.
  • Analysis: This sentence treats `补习` as a service with a measurable `效果 (xiàoguǒ - effect/result)`.
• Example 8:
  • 我不想去补习，我想去打篮球。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiǎng qù bǔxí, wǒ xiǎng qù dǎ lánqiú.
  • English: I don't want to go to tutoring, I want to go play basketball.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct sentence expressing a student's desire for leisure time over more studying.
• Example 9:
  • “双减”政策之后，找个好的补习班更难了。
  • Pinyin: “Shuāngjiǎn” zhèngcè zhīhòu, zhǎo ge hǎo de bǔxíbān gèng nán le.
  • English: After the “double reduction” policy, it's become even harder to find a good tutoring center.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the current reality in China, showing how policy has impacted the `补习` landscape.
• Example 10:
  • 他自己学习很好，从来不需要补习。
  • Pinyin: Tā zìjǐ xuéxí hěn hǎo, cónglái bù xūyào bǔxí.
  • English: He studies very well on his own and has never needed tutoring.
  • Analysis: This highlights that while `补习` is common, it's not universal. Being able to succeed without it is seen as a sign of being an exceptional student.

• `补习 (bǔxí)` vs. `学习 (xuéxí)`: This is a key distinction. `学习 (xuéxí)` is the general verb “to study” or “to learn.” It's what you do at school, at home, or anytime you are learning something. `补习` is specifically the act of *supplementary* study, usually in a structured class or with a tutor, outside of regular school hours.
  • Correct: 我每天在学校学习，放学后去补习。(Wǒ měitiān zài xuéxiào xuéxí, fàngxué hòu qù bǔxí.) - “I study at school every day, and after school I go to tutoring.”
  • Incorrect: 我在学校补习中文。(Wǒ zài xuéxiào bǔxí Zhōngwén.) - This is usually wrong, because `补习` happens *outside* of normal school activities. You would say `我在学校学习中文`.
• `补习 (bǔxí)` vs. `家教 (jiājiào)`: These are related but not the same. `家教 (jiājiào)` specifically means “private tutor” or “home tutoring,” usually one-on-one. `补习` is the broader umbrella term. A `家教` is one form of `补习`. You can also `补习` by going to a large `补习班 (bǔxíbān)`.
  • Think of it this way: `家教` is a specific method, `补习` is the general activity.
• “False Friend” with English “Tutoring”: While “tutoring” is the best translation, it fails to capture the scale, intensity, and cultural weight of `补习`. In the West, tutoring is often optional and remedial. In China, `补习` often feels mandatory and is driven by intense competition for a limited number of top university spots. It's an entire parallel education system.

• 补习班 (bǔxíbān) - The physical place where `补习` happens; a cram school or tutoring center.
• 家教 (jiājiào) - A specific type of `补习`; a private tutor who often comes to the student's home.
• 高考 (gāokǎo) - The national college entrance exam, the primary reason the `补习` culture is so pervasive.
• 应试教育 (yìngshì jiàoyù) - “Exam-oriented education.” The educational philosophy focused on test performance that fuels the demand for `补习`.
• 内卷 (nèijuǎn) - “Involution.” A popular slang term for the zero-sum, rat-race competition where everyone works harder but no one gets ahead. The `补习` arms race is a perfect example.
• 双减 (shuāngjiǎn) - The “double reduction” policy enacted in 2021 to limit homework and after-school tutoring.
• 辅导 (fǔdǎo) - To guide, to coach, or to tutor. Often used interchangeably with `补习`, but can imply a gentler, more guidance-based approach versus pure cramming.
• 学习 (xuéxí) - The general, foundational term for “to study” or “to learn.”