As summer winds down, it's time to start preparing for a brand new school year. Whether your child is starting kindergarten, middle school, or heading back to university, planning ahead can make the transition smoother and more enjoyable. For Chinese language learners, here is how to talk about preparing for a new school year in Mandarin Chinese.
Start With a Positive Mindset
保持积极的心态 (Bǎochí jījí de xīntài) means to “maintain a positive mindset.” Returning to school can feel overwhelming for both students and parents. A great way to start the year is by cultivating a positive attitude and setting intentions.
Encourage kids to think of school as a place of growth, not just grades. You can say:
新学期，新开始！(Xīn xuéqī, xīn kāishǐ!) – A new semester, a new beginning!
我准备好了迎接挑战！(Wǒ zhǔnbèi hǎo le yíngjiē tiǎozhàn!) – I'm ready to take on the challenge!
Review and Reorganize School Supplies
准备学习用品 (Zhǔnbèi xuéxí yòngpǐn) means to “prepare school supplies.” Before the first day, make sure all school supplies are accounted for. This includes:
Backpack: 书包 shūbāo
Notebooks: 笔记本 bǐjìběn
Pens: 笔 bǐ
Pencil case: 铅笔盒 qiānbǐ hé
Eraser: 橡皮 xiàngpí
Ruler: 尺子 chǐzi
You can practice the sentence: 我需要买新的学习用品。(Wǒ xūyào mǎi xīn de xuéxí yòngpǐn.)
"I need to buy new school supplies."
Reestablish a Routine
建立规律的作息时间 (Jiànlì guīlǜ de zuòxí shíjiān) means to “establish a regular schedule.” Over the summer, routines often fall by the wayside. Gradually shifting sleep and wake-up times before school starts helps ease the transition to the new routine.
Here's a helpful expression:
早睡早起精神好。(Zǎo shuì zǎo qǐ jīngshén hǎo.) "Early to bed and early to rise keeps you energized."
Encourage kids to Establishing a consistent 作息时间 (zuòxí shíjiān) – daily schedule – makes mornings less chaotic and improves focus in class. Here’s what you can say:
Sleep by 9:00 pm: (晚上九点 wǎnshàng jiǔ diǎn)
Wake up by 7:00 am: (早上七点 zǎoshang qī diǎn)
Refresh Academic Skills
复习功课 (Fùxí gōngkè) means to “review schoolwork.” A little review goes a long way in preventing summer learning loss. Here’s what you can recommend:
Reading a few pages of a book each day (每天读几页书 – Měitiān dú jǐ yè shū)
Practicing writing characters (练习写汉字 – liànxí xiě hànzì)
Ask your child:
你还记得去年的内容吗？(Nǐ hái jìdé qùnián de nèiróng ma?) "
Do you still remember last year's material?"
Set Goals for the New Semester
设定目标 (Shèdìng mùbiāo) means to “set goals.” The start of the school year is an ideal time to set both academic and personal goals. Setting small, achievable goals helps build confidence and provides a sense of structure. These can be written as:
我的目标是每天完成作业。(Wǒ de mùbiāo shì měitiān wánchéng zuòyè.) "My goal is to finish homework every day."
我要在考试中取得好成绩。(Wǒ yào zài kǎoshì zhōng qǔdé hǎo chéngjì.) "I want to get good grades on my exams."
Talk About School Feelings
表达对学校的感受 (Biǎodá duì xuéxiào de gǎnshòu) means to “express feelings about school.” Here’s how you can encourage your child to share how they feel about going back to school:
你紧张吗？(Nǐ jǐnzhāng ma?) – Are you nervous?
你期待见到你的朋友吗？(Nǐ qīdài jiàn dào nǐ de péngyǒu ma?) – Are you excited to see your friends?
Before school starts, let your child know it's okay to feel a mix of emotions—and reassure them they're not alone. Here are some valid vocabulary words to describe feelings:
Nervous: 紧张 jǐnzhāng
Excited: 兴奋 xīngfèn
Happy: 开心 kāixīn
Worried: 担心 dānxīn
Learn Key School Vocabulary
To help children feel more confident in a Chinese-speaking school setting, or to support language learning, here's a mini glossary of school-related vocabulary:
Teacher: 老师 lǎoshī
Student: 学生 xuéshēng
Class: 班级 bānjí
Homework: 作业 zuòyè
Test/Exam: 考试 kǎoshì
Classroom: 教室 jiàoshì
Schoolbag: 书包 shūbāo
Principal: 校长 xiàozhǎng
Practice with a few example sentences:
我明天要交作业。(Wǒ míngtiān yào jiāo zuòyè.) – I have to turn in my homework tomorrow.
我们的老师很亲切。(Wǒmen de lǎoshī hěn qīnqiè.) – Our teacher is very kind.
Prepare for the First Day
准备开学第一天 (Zhǔnbèi kāixué dì yī tiān) means to “prepare for the first day of school.” A calm and confident first day sets the tone for year. Here's a helpful checklist to run through the day before:
Pack your schoolbag (准备书包 zhǔnbèi shūbāo)
Pick your outfit (准备衣服 zhǔnbèi yīfu)
Eat a good breakfast (吃营养早餐 chī yíngyǎng zǎocān)
Leave early (早点出门 zǎodiǎn chūmén)
Final Encouragement: You've Got This!
The back-to-school season is an opportunity for a fresh start, and with a bit of planning, it can be a time of great excitement and growth. Use the Chinese expressions in this post to help your family talk about school routines, goals, and feelings in Mandarin. Whether you're heading back to school in China, the U.S., or anywhere in between, just remember: 加油！(Jiāyóu!) – You can do it!
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