fǔdǎo: 辅导 - To Tutor, Coach, Counsel

• Keywords: fudao, 辅导, fǔdǎo, Chinese for tutor, Chinese for coaching, counseling in Chinese, academic tutoring, after-school tutoring, 辅导班, fudao ban, Chinese cram school, mentoring in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 辅导 (fǔdǎo), which means to tutor, coach, or provide guidance. A cornerstone of modern Chinese culture, particularly in education, 辅导 refers to the widespread practice of supplemental tutoring to gain an academic edge. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in the context of the competitive 高考 (gāokǎo), and practical usage from academic coaching to psychological counseling.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fǔdǎo
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To provide guidance, coaching, or tutoring, often in an academic or developmental context.
• In a Nutshell: 辅导 (fǔdǎo) is about helping someone improve or understand something through targeted, supportive assistance. It's less like a formal lecture and more like a hands-on guidance session. Think of a math tutor helping you with a tough problem, a coach refining your technique, or a counselor helping you think through a decision. While it can apply to various fields, its most common use is in academic tutoring.

• 辅 (fǔ): This character means “to assist,” “to supplement,” or “to support.” The left part is the radical `车 (chē)`, meaning cart or vehicle. It suggests being a supplementary part that helps the main vehicle move forward—like a supporting wheel.
• 导 (dǎo): This character means “to guide” or “to lead.” It's composed of `道 (dào)` (the way, path) at the top and `寸 (cùn)` (an ancient unit of length, often representing an action done by hand) at the bottom. Together, it paints a picture of using one's hand to lead someone along the right path.
• When combined, 辅导 (fǔdǎo) literally means “to assist and guide.” This captures the essence of the word perfectly: it's not just about teaching facts, but about providing supportive guidance to help someone succeed on their own path.

In China, 辅导 is inextricably linked to the high-stakes education system. The National College Entrance Examination, or 高考 (gāokǎo), is a single exam that largely determines a student's future. This immense pressure has created a massive industry of private tutoring centers known as 辅导班 (fǔdǎobān). In Western culture, tutoring is often seen as remedial—something for students who are falling behind. In China, 辅导 is for everyone. It's a proactive, almost essential, tool for success. Top students receive 辅导 to get an even greater edge, while average students use it to keep up and improve their scores. Seeking 辅导 is not a sign of weakness; it's a sign of diligence and a family's investment in their child's future. Beyond academics, the concept is expanding. 心理辅导 (xīnlǐ fǔdǎo), or psychological counseling, is becoming more common as mental health awareness grows. However, the deep cultural association with education means that if you hear someone mention 辅导 without any other context, it's almost certainly about schoolwork.

辅导 is a versatile term used in several key contexts:

• Academic Tutoring (Most Common): This is the primary usage. It can refer to one-on-one tutoring (`一对一辅导`) or group classes (`辅导班`). Parents often discuss hiring tutors or sending their children to these classes.
  • Example: “我给儿子请了个数学辅导老师。” (Wǒ gěi érzi qǐngle ge shùxué fǔdǎo lǎoshī.) - “I hired a math tutor for my son.”
• Counseling and Guidance: When paired with another word, it specifies the type of guidance.
  • 心理辅导 (xīnlǐ fǔdǎo): Psychological counseling.
  • 就业辅导 (jiùyè fǔdǎo): Career counseling/coaching.
  • 婚前辅导 (hūnqián fǔdǎo): Pre-marital counseling.
• As a Noun: It can refer to the act or session of tutoring itself.
  • Example: “今天的辅导很有用。” (Jīntiān de fǔdǎo hěn yǒuyòng.) - “Today's tutoring session was very useful.”

The connotation of 辅导 is overwhelmingly positive and proactive. It reflects a commitment to improvement and self-development.

• Example 1:
  • 为了提高英语成绩，她每周都去上辅导班。
  • Pinyin: Wèile tígāo Yīngyǔ chéngjì, tā měi zhōu dōu qù shàng fǔdǎobān.
  • English: In order to improve her English grade, she goes to a tutoring class every week.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example showing the link between 辅导 and academic ambition. `辅导班 (fǔdǎobān)` is a key related term.
• Example 2:
  • 老师在课后辅导了几个学习有困难的学生。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī zài kèhòu fǔdǎole jǐ ge xuéxí yǒu kùnnan de xuéshēng.
  • English: The teacher tutored a few students who were having learning difficulties after class.
  • Analysis: Here, 辅导 is used as a verb. It shows a caring teacher providing extra help, a very common scenario.
• Example 3:
  • 我需要一位能辅导我准备 HSK 考试的家教。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào yī wèi néng fǔdǎo wǒ zhǔnbèi HSK kǎoshì de jiājiào.
  • English: I need a private tutor who can coach me in preparing for the HSK exam.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how a learner might use the word. Note the use of `家教 (jiājiào)`, a private tutor who often does the 辅导.
• Example 4:
  • 如果你感到压力很大，可以去找心理医生进行辅导。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ gǎndào yālì hěn dà, kěyǐ qù zhǎo xīnlǐ yīshēng jìnxíng fǔdǎo.
  • English: If you feel a lot of stress, you can go see a psychologist for counseling.
  • Analysis: This shows the non-academic use. The context is made clear by `心理医生 (xīnlǐ yīshēng)`, psychologist. The verb is `进行 (jìnxíng)`, which means “to carry out” and is often paired with formal, multi-character nouns like 辅导.
• Example 5:
  • 这家公司为新员工提供职业发展辅导。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī wèi xīn yuángōng tígōng zhíyè fāzhǎn fǔdǎo.
  • English: This company provides career development coaching for new employees.
  • Analysis: This example moves 辅导 into a professional, corporate context.
• Example 6:
  • 在他的辅导下，我的棋艺进步很快。
  • Pinyin: Zài tā de fǔdǎo xià, wǒ de qí yì jìnbù hěn kuài.
  • English: Under his coaching, my chess skills improved very quickly.
  • Analysis: Here, 辅导 is used as a noun (“his coaching”) to describe skill-based mentoring outside of academics.
• Example 7:
  • 谢谢您的辅导，我现在完全明白了。
  • Pinyin: Xièxiè nín de fǔdǎo, wǒ xiànzài wánquán míngbái le.
  • English: Thank you for your guidance, I completely understand now.
  • Analysis: A polite and common way to thank someone (like a teacher, mentor, or even a helpful colleague) who has just explained something to you.
• Example 8:
  • 很多家长认为，一对一辅导比大班课效果更好。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō jiāzhǎng rènwéi, yī duì yī fǔdǎo bǐ dà bān kè xiàoguǒ gèng hǎo.
  • English: Many parents believe that one-on-one tutoring is more effective than large classes.
  • Analysis: `一对一辅导 (yī duì yī fǔdǎo)` is a very specific and common phrase within the tutoring world.
• Example 9:
  • 学校设立了就业辅导中心，帮助学生找工作。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxiào shèlì le jiùyè fǔdǎo zhōngxīn, bāngzhù xuéshēng zhǎo gōngzuò.
  • English: The university set up a career guidance center to help students find jobs.
  • Analysis: This shows 辅导 as part of an official entity's name, the `就业辅导中心 (jiùyè fǔdǎo zhōngxīn)`.
• Example 10:
  • 他不仅辅导我的功课，还关心我的生活。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn fǔdǎo wǒ de gōngkè, hái guānxīn wǒ de shēnghuó.
  • English: He not only tutors me on my homework, but also cares about my life.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the holistic and supportive nature that good 辅导 can entail, moving beyond simple instruction to genuine mentorship.

• `辅导 (fǔdǎo)` vs. `教 (jiāo)`: This is a key distinction.
  • `教 (jiāo)` means “to teach” in a general sense, like a schoolteacher teaching a subject to a class. It's their primary job. `老师教数学` (The teacher teaches math).
  • `辅导 (fǔdǎo)` means “to tutor” or “to coach.” It implies supplemental, personalized help. The same teacher might `辅导` a student after class. It focuses on helping someone overcome specific difficulties or improve further. You wouldn't say a professor `辅导` a lecture hall of 200 students; he `教` them.
• `辅导` vs. “Counseling”: Be careful with this “false friend.” While `心理辅导` does mean psychological counseling, the standalone word `辅导` strongly defaults to academic tutoring in most contexts.
  • Correct: 我需要心理辅导。 (Wǒ xūyào xīnlǐ fǔdǎo.) - I need psychological counseling.
  • Incorrect/Ambiguous: 我需要辅导。 (Wǒ xūyào fǔdǎo.) - This will almost always be interpreted as “I need (academic) tutoring.” If you mean therapy, you must specify with `心理 (xīnlǐ)`.

• 辅导班 (fǔdǎobān) - Tutoring class or “cram school,” the physical place where much 辅导 happens.
• 家教 (jiājiào) - A private tutor, especially one who comes to the home. This is the person who *does* the 辅导.
• 补习 (bǔxí) - To take extra lessons to catch up. It has a slightly more remedial connotation than 辅导, which can also be for getting ahead.
• 指导 (zhǐdǎo) - To guide or direct. More formal and authoritative than 辅导. A professor gives 指导 to their PhD student; a manager gives 指导 to an employee.
• 教育 (jiàoyù) - Education. The broad field and system that creates the need for 辅导.
• 高考 (gāokǎo) - The National College Entrance Exam. The single biggest cultural driver for the 辅导 industry in China.
• 老师 (lǎoshī) - Teacher. The person who might provide 辅导.
• 心理咨询 (xīnlǐ zīxún) - Psychological consultation/therapy. A more clinical and formal synonym for `心理辅导`.