jiàochéng: 教程 - Tutorial, Course, Guidebook

• Keywords: 教程, jiaocheng, tutorial in Chinese, Chinese for course, how-to guide Chinese, jiaocheng meaning, online course Chinese, programming tutorial Chinese, 新手教程, 课程 vs 教程
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 教程 (jiàochéng), the essential Chinese word for a “tutorial,” “step-by-step guide,” or “practical course.” This page provides a deep dive into how 教程 is used in modern China for online learning, software guides, and self-study. Learn the key differences between 教程 (jiàochéng) and 课程 (kèchéng) to find the right Chinese learning resources, from a coding tutorial to a makeup guide.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiàochéng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A tutorial, a set of instructions, or a guidebook that teaches a practical skill through a defined process.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 教程 (jiàochéng) as a “how-to” guide. It's less like a formal academic class and more like a YouTube video teaching you how to bake bread, an online guide for learning Python, or the pop-up tour in a new app. The word emphasizes a practical, step-by-step process (程) of teaching (教) a specific skill.

• 教 (jiào): To teach, instruct, or guide. This character is fundamental to the concept of education in Chinese.
• 程 (chéng): A process, a sequence, a journey, or a set of rules. It implies an orderly progression from one stage to the next. You can see it in words like `过程 (guòchéng - process)` and `程度 (chéngdù - degree/level)`.

When combined, 教程 (jiàochéng) literally means a “teaching process.” This perfectly captures its meaning as a structured guide designed to take a learner from point A to point B.

While not a deeply philosophical term, 教程 (jiàochéng) is culturally significant in the context of modern China's explosion in online learning and self-improvement. The accessibility of online video platforms and forums has democratized education, allowing anyone to create or follow a 教程 to learn a new skill. In the West, we distinguish between a formal “course” (like a university class) and a more informal “tutorial” (like a software guide). This distinction is very similar in Chinese. A 教程 (jiàochéng) is the go-to term for the practical, often self-paced, skill-based learning that has become a massive part of modern life. It reflects a cultural shift towards lifelong learning and acquiring practical skills outside of the traditional, rigid education system. While respect for formal teachers is a core value, the 教程 empowers the individual to become their own teacher.

This is the most common context for 教程. If you are searching for a how-to guide on a Chinese website like Bilibili or Baidu, you will use this word.

• `化妆教程 (huàzhuāng jiàochéng)` - Makeup tutorial
• `编程教程 (biānchéng jiàochéng)` - Programming tutorial
• `吉他教程 (jítā jiàochéng)` - Guitar tutorial

When you use an app or a piece of software for the first time, the guided tour that shows you how to use the features is often called a 新手教程 (xīnshǒu jiàochéng), or “beginner's tutorial.”

教程 can also refer to a physical or digital textbook that is structured as a step-by-step guide to learning a skill. For example, a book titled `《Photoshop入门教程》 (Photoshop Rùmén Jiàochéng)` would be an “Introductory Photoshop Tutorial/Guidebook.”

• Example 1:
  • 我在网上找到了一个很好的中文教程。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài wǎngshàng zhǎodào le yí ge hěn hǎo de Zhōngwén jiàochéng.
  • English: I found a very good Chinese tutorial online.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of how learners use the word. `网上 (wǎngshàng)` means “online.”
• Example 2:
  • 这个软件有一个新手教程，很容易上手。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge ruǎnjiàn yǒu yí ge xīnshǒu jiàochéng, hěn róngyì shàngshǒu.
  • English: This software has a beginner's tutorial, so it's easy to get started.
  • Analysis: `新手 (xīnshǒu)` means “new hand” or beginner. `上手 (shàngshǒu)` is a great colloquial term for “getting the hang of something.”
• Example 3:
  • 她正在跟着一个视频教程学做蛋糕。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài gēnzhe yí ge shìpín jiàochéng xué zuò dàngāo.
  • English: She is following a video tutorial to learn how to make a cake.
  • Analysis: `跟着 (gēnzhe)` means “to follow.” `视频 (shìpín)` means “video,” so `视频教程` is a “video tutorial.”
• Example 4:
  • 这个教程的步骤非常清楚。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge jiàochéng de bùzhòu fēicháng qīngchǔ.
  • English: The steps in this tutorial are very clear.
  • Analysis: `步骤 (bùzhòu)` means “steps,” highlighting the sequential nature of a 教程.
• Example 5:
  • 你能给我推荐一个学习Python的教程吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng gěi wǒ tuījiàn yí ge xuéxí Python de jiàochéng ma?
  • English: Can you recommend a tutorial for learning Python?
  • Analysis: `推荐 (tuījiàn)` means “to recommend,” a very useful verb when asking for resources.
• Example 6:
  • 我想自己录一个化妆教程。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng zìjǐ lù yí ge huàzhuāng jiàochéng.
  • English: I want to record a makeup tutorial myself.
  • Analysis: `录 (lù)` means “to record.” This shows how an individual can also be a creator of a 教程.
• Example 7:
  • 这个教程太复杂了，我看不懂。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge jiàochéng tài fùzá le, wǒ kàn bù dǒng.
  • English: This tutorial is too complicated, I can't understand it.
  • Analysis: `看不懂 (kàn bù dǒng)` is a key phrase meaning “can't understand by reading/watching.”
• Example 8:
  • 这本书其实是一本完整的Photoshop教程。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū qíshí shì yì běn wánzhěng de Photoshop jiàochéng.
  • English: This book is actually a complete Photoshop tutorial.
  • Analysis: `完整 (wánzhěng)` means “complete,” showing that a 教程 can be comprehensive.
• Example 9:
  • 大多数免费教程的质量都不太高。
  • Pinyin: Dàduōshù miǎnfèi jiàochéng de zhìliàng dōu bú tài gāo.
  • English: The quality of most free tutorials is not very high.
  • Analysis: `免费 (miǎnfèi)` means “free of charge.” `质量 (zhìliàng)` means “quality.”
• Example 10:
  • 按照这个教程，我终于修好了我的电脑。
  • Pinyin: Ànzhào zhè ge jiàochéng, wǒ zhōngyú xiūhǎo le wǒ de diànnǎo.
  • English: Following this tutorial, I finally fixed my computer.
  • Analysis: `按照 (ànzhào)` means “according to,” emphasizing the instructional nature of a 教程.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 教程 (jiàochéng) with 课程 (kèchéng). They can both be translated as “course,” but they are not interchangeable.

• 教程 (jiàochéng) - The Tutorial/Guide:
  • Focus: The “how-to” process, a practical skill.
  • Context: Online guides, software walkthroughs, self-study for a specific task (e.g., coding, repairing something, learning a craft).
  • Example: 你应该看一个教程来学习怎么用这个软件。(You should watch a tutorial to learn how to use this software.)
• 课程 (kèchéng) - The Course/Curriculum:
  • Focus: The subject matter, an academic topic, a syllabus.
  • Context: University classes, a school subject, a formal training program.
  • Example: 我这学期的历史课程很有意思。(My history course this semester is very interesting.)

Incorrect Usage:

• Wrong: ~~我的大学物理教程很难。~~ (Wǒ de dàxué wùlǐ jiàochéng hěn nán.)
• Why it's wrong: A university physics class is a formal, academic subject. It is a curriculum of study, not just a practical, step-by-step guide.
• Correct: 我的大学物理课程很难。(Wǒ de dàxué wùlǐ kèchéng hěn nán.)

• 课程 (kèchéng) - A formal course or curriculum. The most important term to distinguish from 教程.
• 指南 (zhǐnán) - A guide or guidebook. Often broader and more principle-based than a step-by-step 教程. Think “A Guide to Investing” vs. “A Tutorial on How to Buy a Stock.”
• 说明书 (shuōmíngshū) - An instruction manual, typically for assembling or operating a physical product like furniture or an appliance.
• 新手 (xīnshǒu) - A beginner or “new hand.” Frequently paired with 教程 to mean “beginner's tutorial.”
• 自学 (zìxué) - To self-study. People often use a 教程 to 自学 a new skill.
• 步骤 (bùzhòu) - A step or procedure. A good 教程 has clear 步骤.
• 视频 (shìpín) - Video. In the modern era, most online tutorials are `视频教程`.
• 教学 (jiàoxué) - The act, method, or philosophy of teaching. A broader and more abstract concept.