‘补习’ (bǔ xí) literally combines ‘补’ (bǔ), meaning ‘to supplement’ or ‘to make up for’, and ‘习’ (xí), meaning ‘to study’ or ‘to practice’. Together, they describe the act of taking extra classes—often outside regular school hours—to reinforce understanding, catch up on missed material, or prepare for exams. It’s commonly used in educational contexts, especially when students need targeted support in subjects like math, English, or science.

This term carries a neutral-to-positive connotation, implying diligence and proactive learning. While it can refer to private tutoring, group classes, or online courses, it specifically emphasizes remediation or enrichment—not routine classroom instruction. Parents often arrange 补习 for their children during weekends or summer breaks, and many students attend multiple sessions weekly. The word is widely understood across Mandarin-speaking regions and appears frequently in education-related discussions, advertisements for tutoring centers, and school communications.