【Learn Chinese】Essential School Supplies in Chinese

The Chinese New Year is over and the winter break is coming to an end, it’s time to prepare for school again! As we prepare for the new semester, one of the most exciting rituals is shopping for new school supplies.
Whether you are a young student or an adult learner, knowing the names of these everyday items in Chinese is a fantastic way to bring the language into your daily routine.

Let’s start with the most important item: the 书包 (shūbāo) , or school bag. After you’ve chosen the perfect bag, it’s time to fill it! You’ll definitely need a 铅笔盒 (qiānbǐ hé) , a pencil case, to keep everything organized.
Inside that pencil case, the essentials begin. The most common tool for writing is the 铅笔 (qiānbǐ) , or pencil. For older students, a 钢笔 (gāngbǐ) (fountain pen) might be used for more formal writing. And of course, no writer is complete without a good 橡皮 (xiàngpí) —that’s an eraser, perfect for fixing those small mistakes.
When taking notes in class, you’ll need something to write on. The standard choice is a 笔记本 (bìjìběn) , which simply means a notebook. Perhaps you prefer to write in a more structured format; then you would use a 练习本 (liànxí běn) , an exercise book.

For art class or for highlighting key points in your textbook, don’t forget your 彩笔 (cǎibǐ) , or colored pens. And for sticking photos, ticket stubs, or vocabulary cards into your journal, you’ll need a trusty 胶棒 (jiāo bàng) , a glue stick.
Finally, to make sure all your hard work is neat and tidy, a 尺子 (chǐzi) —a ruler—is essential for drawing straight lines.

Remember, using the correct vocabulary makes you feel more at home in the classroom. Happy studying, and see you in class!