补课 (bǔ kè) — to make up a missed lesson or class

Definition

补课 specifically means making up a missed class or lesson. Unlike 补习 (regular extra tutoring) or 补偿 (compensating for a loss), it refers to re-taking what was missed.

verb

to make up a missed lesson or class

Examples

补课。
Wǒ míng tiān xū yào bǔ kè shù xué kè.
I need to make up math class tomorrow.
。
Wǒ bǔ le yì jié kè.
I made up one class.
，补课。
Tā yīn shēng bìng qǐng jià, xià zhōu yào bǔ kè.
He took leave due to illness and needs to make up the class next week.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

补bǔmake up

课kèlesson

Make up plus lesson means to make up a missed lesson.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 補; 补 is its simplified writing.

衤甫補

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衤Written in full as衣yīclothes

Sound part声符shēngfú

甫

甫fǔ補bǔ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 補 shows 衤 (clothes) beside 甫, which gives the sound; the simplified 补 is a later shorthand, so its shape is not the historical breakdown.

Open 补 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 課; 课 is its simplified writing.

言果課

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánto say

Sound part声符shēngfú

果

果guǒ課kè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 課 pairs 言 (to say) with 果 as a sound part; the simplified 课 is a shorthand and its right side is not a sound part.

Open 课 →