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节jiéclassifier for segments: lessons, train wagons, biblical verses etc

HSK 3word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

节 (jié) means a section; it is a measure word for lessons and train cars, as in 两节课 (two classes). As a noun it also means "festival" or "holiday," as in 过节 (to celebrate a festival), and its first meaning is "joint" or "node." The measure-word use is the one learners meet first.

What does 节 mean?

  1. 1.

    classifier for segments: lessons, train wagons, biblical verses etcmeasure word

  2. 2.

    seasonal festivalnoun

What does the character 节 mean?

  • 节classifier for segments: lessons, train wagons, biblical verses etc

How do you use 节?

节 counts lessons and train cars, as in 一节课; as a noun it names festivals, as in 过节.

Patterns

  • number + 节 + 课

    明天我只有一节课。

    Míngtiān wǒ zhǐ yǒu yì jié kè.

    Tomorrow I only have one class.

What are some examples of 节 in a sentence?

  1. HSK 1

    今天上午我有两节课。

    Jīntiān shàngwǔ wǒ yǒu liǎng jié kè.

    I have two classes this morning.

  2. HSK 1

    一节课四十五分钟。

    Yì jié kè sìshíwǔ fēnzhōng.

    One class is forty-five minutes long.

How is 节 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    你下午有几节课？

    Nǐ xiàwǔ yǒu jǐ jié kè?

    How many classes do you have this afternoon?

  2. Speaker B:

    只有一节，三点就下课。

    Zhǐ yǒu yì jié, sān diǎn jiù xiàkè.

    Just one; it ends at three.

  3. Speaker A:

    下课以后去打球吧。

    Xiàkè yǐhòu qù dǎ qiú ba.

    Let's go play ball after class.

  4. Speaker B:

    好，我在体育馆等你。

    Hǎo, wǒ zài tǐyùguǎn děng nǐ.

    OK, I'll wait for you at the gym.

What should you learn next?

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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.