‘Tóng xué’ literally combines ‘tóng’ (same) and ‘xué’ (study/learning), meaning ‘one who studies together with you.’ It primarily refers to a classmate — someone in the same class, grade, or school as you. Unlike English ‘classmate,’ it can also extend to people who studied at the same institution at the same time, even if not in identical courses — for example, university peers of the same cohort.

The term is neutral and widely used across ages, but carries warmth and familiarity in informal contexts. It’s commonly used as a polite form of address among students, and sometimes even among adults reminiscing about school days. While it’s not used for coworkers or friends outside an academic setting, it may appear in nostalgic or semi-formal group settings (e.g., alumni gatherings). It’s rarely used with pronouns like ‘wǒ de’ (my) unless emphasizing possession or contrast (e.g., ‘wǒ de tóng xué’ vs. ‘tā de tóng xué’).