‘课本’ (kè běn) literally combines ‘课’ (kè), meaning ‘class’ or ‘lesson’, and ‘本’ (běn), meaning ‘book’ or ‘volume’. Together, they form the standard term for a textbook — a book specifically designed for teaching and learning a subject in school or formal instruction. It is commonly used across all levels of education, from elementary to university, and refers to officially adopted or recommended course materials.

Unlike general books (书, shū) or reference works (参考书, cānkǎo shū), 课本 implies structure, curriculum alignment, and pedagogical purpose. It often appears in compound terms like 数学课本 (shùxué kèběn, math textbook) or 英语课本 (Yīngyǔ kèběn, English textbook). While digital versions are increasingly common, the word still strongly evokes printed, bound volumes assigned by teachers or required by syllabi.