‘下课’ (xià kè) literally combines ‘下’ (xià), meaning ‘to go down’ or ‘to end’, and ‘课’ (kè), meaning ‘class’ or ‘lesson’. Together, it refers to the moment when a class officially ends — the dismissal time. It functions both as a noun (e.g., ‘下课时间’ — class dismissal time) and as a verb (e.g., ‘老师说下课了’ — the teacher announced class is over). It’s used daily in school settings by students, teachers, and staff, and appears in schedules, announcements, and casual conversation.

The term carries no emotional connotation on its own but often signals relief, transition, or activity change — for instance, students rushing to the playground or preparing for the next subject. While primarily associated with formal classroom instruction, it can also be used metaphorically in training sessions or workshops. Unlike ‘放学’ (fàng xué), which means ‘school dismissal’ (the end of the entire school day), ‘下课’ refers only to the conclusion of a single lesson or period.