Meaning of 课文
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- text
Measure word: 篇
How to use 课文
课文 is the reading passage inside a lesson of a textbook, the part teachers ask students to read aloud or memorize. It often pairs with verbs like 读 (dú), 念 (niàn), and 背 (bèi). Example: 请大家读一下课文。(Qǐng dàjiā dú yíxià kèwén.) Everyone, please read the text.
课 (kè) means a lesson or class, and 文 (wén) means writing or text, as in 中文 (Zhōngwén). Put them together and you get the written text of a lesson: 课文.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 课文 (kèwén) and 课本 (kèběn). 课本 is the whole textbook you carry, while 课文 is the passage inside it. Also keep the fourth tone on 课 (kè) and the second tone on 文 (wén).
课文 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
课 kè · subject · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
文 wén · language · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 课文.
| 上课 | shàngkè | to go to class; to attend class |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese language |
| 下课 | xiàkè | to finish class; to get out of class |
| 课本 | kèběn | textbook |
| 英文 | Yīngwén | English (language) |
| 课堂 | kètáng | classroom (CL:間|间[jian1]); class session |
| 作文 | zuòwén | to write an essay; composition (student essay) |
| 文件 | wénjiàn | document; file |
| 文化 | wénhuà | culture; civilization |
| 文章 | wénzhāng | article; essay |
| 文明 | wénmíng | civilized; civilization |
| 课程 | kèchéng | course; academic program |
Questions about 课文
What does 课文 mean?
课文 (kèwén) means "text" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 课文?
课文 is made of 2 characters: 课 (10 strokes), 文 (4 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 课文 an HSK word?
Yes. 课文 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 课文 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 课文 is written 課文.
What measure word is used with 课文?
The most common measure word is 篇 (piān), as in 一篇课文 (yì piān kèwén), one text. You can also say 第三课的课文 (dì sān kè de kèwén), the text of Lesson 3.
How do you say 'memorize the text' in Chinese?
Say 背课文 (bèi kèwén). Teachers in China often assign this as homework, so you will hear 今天回家背课文 (jīntiān huí jiā bèi kèwén), go home today and memorize the text.