xuéfèi: 学费 - Tuition Fee, School Fee

• Keywords: 学费, xuefei, tuition fee in Chinese, school fees China, cost of education China, pay tuition, Chinese for tuition, learn Chinese cost, HSK 3 vocabulary, 学, 费
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 学费 (xuéfèi), the essential Chinese word for “tuition fee” or “school fees.” This comprehensive guide explores not only its direct translation but also its deep cultural significance in China, where education is a paramount family investment. Learn how to use 学费 in practical daily conversations, understand the costs of education in China, and avoid common mistakes. This is a must-know HSK 3 term for any student of Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xuéfèi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: The fee paid for instruction at a school, college, or university.
• In a Nutshell: 学费 (xuéfèi) is the direct and most common way to say “tuition fee.” The word is perfectly logical: it combines “to study” (学) with “fee” (费). It's a neutral term that you'll hear in any discussion about the cost of attending an educational institution, from a university all the way to a private kindergarten or an after-school tutoring center.

• 学 (xué): This character means “to study” or “to learn.” Its ancient form depicted a child (子) under a roof (宀) with hands showing or receiving knowledge. It represents the act of learning and education itself.
• 费 (fèi): This character means “fee,” “cost,” or “expense.” It's composed of 弗 (fú), which provides the sound, and 贝 (bèi), the radical for “shell.” In ancient China, cowrie shells were used as currency, so 贝 is often found in characters related to money and value.

Combining these two characters gives you 学 (study) + 费 (fee) = 学费 (tuition fee). It's the money you pay for the purpose of studying.

In Chinese culture, education is not just a path to a good job; it is often seen as the single most important investment a family can make. This value is deeply rooted in Confucian principles and the historical imperial examination system (科举, kējǔ), where passing a rigorous test was the primary means of social mobility for centuries. Therefore, 学费 (xuéfèi) carries a much heavier cultural weight than “tuition” might in the West. For many Chinese families, particularly those from rural or less affluent backgrounds, paying a child's university 学费 is a monumental undertaking. It often represents the collective savings and sacrifices of parents, grandparents, and even the extended family. It is the physical manifestation of the family's hopes and dreams being placed upon the next generation. A key cultural contrast is how tuition is funded. In the United States, it's common for students to take out substantial student loans, placing the financial responsibility largely on the individual. While student loans (`助学贷款, zhùxué dàikuǎn`) are becoming more common in China, the traditional and prevailing expectation is that the family unit bears the cost of the 学费. This act is seen as a fundamental parental duty and an expression of love and support.

学费 is a straightforward and widely used term in daily life.

• Paying Tuition: The most common verb used with 学费 is 交 (jiāo), which means “to hand in” or “to pay.” You'll frequently hear the phrase 交学费 (jiāo xuéfèi).
• Discussing Costs: To ask about the price of tuition, you simply ask: 学费多少钱？ (Xuéfèi duōshǎo qián?) - “How much is the tuition?”
• Different Contexts: The term isn't limited to universities. You can use it for:
  • Private K-12 schools (`私立学校, sīlì xuéxiào`)
  • Cram schools or tutoring centers (`补习班, bǔxíbān`)
  • Language courses or other skill-based classes.
• Connotation: The term itself is neutral. However, the context can make it feel heavy, especially when someone sighs and says, “学费太贵了！ (Xuéfèi tài guì le!)” - “The tuition is too expensive!”

• Example 1:
  • 今年大学的学费是多少？
  • Pinyin: Jīnnián dàxué de xuéfèi shì duōshǎo?
  • English: How much is the university's tuition fee this year?
  • Analysis: A basic and very common question you might ask when applying to or discussing schools.
• Example 2:
  • 爸爸妈妈，我该去交学费了。
  • Pinyin: Bàba māmā, wǒ gāi qù jiāo xuéfèi le.
  • English: Mom and Dad, I should go pay the tuition fee now.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the key collocation `交学费 (jiāo xuéfèi)`, “to pay tuition.” The context implies the student is informing their parents, who likely provided the money.
• Example 3:
  • 这里的学费太贵了，我们可能负担不起。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de xuéfèi tài guì le, wǒmen kěnéng fùdān bù qǐ.
  • English: The tuition here is too expensive; we probably can't afford it.
  • Analysis: `负担不起 (fùdān bù qǐ)` means “cannot afford.” This phrase highlights the financial pressure tuition can create.
• Example 4:
  • 他父母辛苦工作，就是为了给他付学费。
  • Pinyin: Tā fùmǔ xīnkǔ gōngzuò, jiùshì wèile gěi tā fù xuéfèi.
  • English: His parents work hard just to pay his tuition fees.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural reality of parental sacrifice for their child's education. `付 (fù)` is another common verb for “to pay.”
• Example 5:
  • 我的奖学金可以支付大部分学费。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de jiǎngxuéjīn kěyǐ zhīfù dàbùfen xuéfèi.
  • English: My scholarship can cover most of the tuition fee.
  • Analysis: Introduces the related term `奖学金 (jiǎngxuéjīn)`, “scholarship.” `支付 (zhīfù)` is a more formal way to say “to pay.”
• Example 6:
  • 除了学费，我们还要交住宿费和书本费。
  • Pinyin: Chúle xuéfèi, wǒmen hái yào jiāo zhùsùfèi hé shūběnfèi.
  • English: Besides the tuition fee, we also have to pay for accommodation and books.
  • Analysis: This is useful for understanding that 学费 is a specific charge, separate from other school-related costs like `住宿费 (zhùsùfèi)` - “dormitory fee.”
• Example 7:
  • 这个暑期补习班的学费是三千块。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shǔqī bǔxíbān de xuéfèi shì sānqiān kuài.
  • English: The tuition for this summer cram school is three thousand yuan.
  • Analysis: Shows how 学费 is also used for non-university educational programs like `补习班 (bǔxíbān)`.
• Example 8:
  • 由于通货膨胀，明年的学费要涨了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú tōnghuò péngzhàng, míngnián de xuéfèi yào zhǎng le.
  • English: Due to inflation, tuition fees will increase next year.
  • Analysis: `涨了 (zhǎng le)` means “has risen” or “will rise.” It's a common way to talk about price increases.
• Example 9:
  • 如果学费不够，你可以申请助学贷款。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ xuéfèi bùgòu, nǐ kěyǐ shēnqǐng zhùxué dàikuǎn.
  • English: If you don't have enough for tuition, you can apply for a student loan.
  • Analysis: Introduces the modern concept of `助学贷款 (zhùxué dàikuǎn)`, “student loan.”
• Example 10:
  • 私立学校的学费通常比公立学校昂贵得多。
  • Pinyin: Sīlì xuéxiào de xuéfèi tōngcháng bǐ gōnglì xuéxiào ángguì de duō.
  • English: Private school tuition is usually much more expensive than public school tuition.
  • Analysis: A useful comparative sentence using `昂贵 (ángguì)`, a formal word for “expensive.”

• 学费 vs. 费用 (fèiyòng): This is a critical distinction.
  • 学费 (xuéfèi) is *only* for tuition/instruction.
  • 费用 (fèiyòng) is a general term for “expenses” or “costs.”
  • For example, `生活费用 (shēnghuó fèiyòng)` are “living expenses,” which would include food, rent, and transportation, but not tuition. You would not say `生活学费`.
• Distinguishing Specific Fees: Learners often mistakenly use 学费 for any school-related payment. Be precise.
  • Application Fee: `报名费 (bàomíngfèi)`
  • Book Fee: `书本费 (shūběnfèi)`
  • Accommodation Fee: `住宿费 (zhùsùfèi)`
• Common Mistake Example:
  • Incorrect: 我需要付这本书的学费。 (Wǒ xūyào fù zhè běn shū de xuéfèi.)
  • Why it's wrong: You don't pay “tuition” for a book. You pay the “price” or “cost” of the book.
  • Correct: 我需要付这本书的钱。 (Wǒ xūyào fù zhè běn shū de qián.) OR 我要交书本费。(Wǒ yào jiāo shūběnfèi.)

• 交 (jiāo) - To hand in, to submit, to pay. The most common verb paired with 学费, as in `交学费`.
• 费用 (fèiyòng) - Expenses, costs. The general category that 学费 falls under.
• 奖学金 (jiǎngxuéjīn) - Scholarship. A sum of money awarded to a student to help pay for their education.
• 助学贷款 (zhùxué dàikuǎn) - Student loan. A loan designed to help students pay for post-secondary education and the associated fees, such as tuition.
• 学杂费 (xuézáfèi) - Miscellaneous school fees. A broader term that often includes tuition (`学费`) and other sundry fees (`杂费`).
• 住宿费 (zhùsùfèi) - Accommodation fee, dormitory fee. A separate cost from tuition.
• 补习班 (bǔxíbān) - Cram school, tutorial center. A very common feature of the Chinese education landscape, for which students also pay 学费.
• 教育 (jiàoyù) - Education. The broader concept that gives 학费 its cultural importance.
• 昂贵 (ángguì) - Expensive, costly. A formal adjective often used to describe high tuition fees.
• 负担 (fùdān) - To bear a burden; a burden. Often used when discussing the financial pressure of paying for 学费.