‘同学们’ (tóng xué men) is a plural noun meaning ‘classmates’ — the people who study in the same class or grade as you. It is formed by combining 同 (tóng, ‘same’) and 学 (xué, ‘study’), which together mean ‘fellow student’, plus the plural suffix 们 (men), used only with humans to indicate ‘a group of people’. Unlike English, Chinese doesn’t change verb forms for plurality, so 们 is essential to signal that more than one classmate is meant.

This term is commonly used in school settings — by teachers addressing students, students greeting each other, or in written announcements. It carries a warm, inclusive, and slightly formal tone, especially when used by authority figures like teachers. While it literally refers to peers in an academic setting, it’s sometimes used playfully among adults who studied together years ago, evoking shared memories and camaraderie.