‘入学’ (rù xué) literally means ‘enter school’ — combining 入 (rù, ‘to enter’) and 学 (xué, short for 学校 ‘school’ or ‘study’). It is a verb phrase meaning ‘to enroll in school’ or ‘to begin formal schooling’, typically referring to the official registration process that marks the start of a student’s academic journey at a new institution — especially at primary, secondary, or university level.

This term is commonly used in administrative, educational, and family contexts. It emphasizes the formal transition into a new stage of education, not just attending classes casually. You’ll see it on enrollment notices, school calendars, and parent-teacher communications. While it can apply to any school level, it most frequently appears when discussing children entering primary school or students beginning university — often accompanied by dates, required documents, or orientation schedules.