What’s in a Chinese Student’s Schoolbag? Learn Essential Chinese Words!
As you pack your Chinese schoolbag each day have you ever wondered how to describe all the essential school supplies in Chinese? From textbook to eraser let’s expand your Chinese vocabulary and learn the names of common school items!
📚 书包 (Shūbāo) Schoolbag
In Chinese a backpack is known as 背包 (bēibāo). This term is quite straightforward:
- 背 (bēi) “to carry on one’s back”
- 包 (bāo) “bag” or “sack”
However the word 书包 (shūbāo) specifically refers to a schoolbag used for carrying books stationery and other school essentials.
📝 VOCABULARY RECAP
背包
bēibāo
backpack
书包
shūbāo
schoolbag
Why Chinese Learn These Terms?
Understanding Chinese school related vocabulary is essential if you’re studying in China teaching kids Chinese or just expanding your Mandarin vocabulary for daily conversations.
What’s in a Chinese Schoolbag?
Now let’s explore a 书包 (shūbāo) in Chinese! Here are some essential school supplies every Chinese student carry:
📖 课本 (Kèběn) – Textbook
A 课本 is a textbook used for studying different subjects.
📝 笔记本 (Bǐjìběn) – Notebook
Students use a 笔记本 to take notes and complete assignments.
✏️ 铅笔 (Qiānbǐ) – Pencil
A 铅笔 is a must have writing & taking notes.
🖊️ 圆珠笔 (Yuánzhūbǐ) – Ballpoint Pen
A 圆珠笔 is commonly used for writing in class during exams.
📏 尺子 (Chǐzi) – Ruler
A 尺子 helps with drawing straight lines objects.
🖍️ 橡皮 (Xiàngpí) – Eraser
A 橡皮 is used to erase mistakes when writing with a pencil.
✂️ 剪刀 (Jiǎndāo) – Scissors
A 剪刀 is useful for cutting paper craft materials.
📌 胶水 (Jiāoshuǐ) – Glue
A 胶水 is used for sticking paper and art projects together.
01. Chinese Notebook 📔
笔记本
bǐjìběn
notebook (stationery)
(lit. “pen-to record-book”)
A 笔记本 (bǐjìběn) is an item in every Chinese student’s schoolbag used for taking notes writing homework and organizing study materials. In Chinese learning a notebook is helpful for practicing characters jotting down new vocabulary and keeping track of grammar rules.
2. Chinese Book 📖
书
shū
book
A 书 (shū) is a fundamental part of every student’s schoolbag used for studying reading and learning new subjects. Whether it’s a Chinese textbook novel or workbook books are essential in Chinese learning and daily student life.
03. Chinese Textbook 📒
A 课本 is a textbook used for studying different subjects.
课本
kèběn
textbook
(lit. “class-book”)
A 课本 (kèběn) is a key part of a Chinese student’s schoolbag providing structured learning materials for different subjects whether studying Chinese math or science textbooks are essential for students in China and worldwide.
Chinese Grammar Tip:
The measure word for books is “本” (běn):
- 一本书 (yì běn shū) – one book
- 一本课本 (yì běn kèběn) – one textbook
04. Chinese Tumbler Cup 🥤
The term 杯子 (bēizi) is a general word for any cup mug or glass used for water tea coffee or other beverages.
杯子
bēizi
cup
A 保温杯 (bǎowēn bēi) is perfect for keeping drinks hot or cold when you’re on the move. Whether you’re on a Chinese school trip or need to keep your morning coffee warm during class a tumbler cup is an essential Chinese student’s schoolbag item.
Example Sentence:
你带保温杯了吗？
Nǐ dài bǎowēn bēi le ma?
Did you bring your tumbler cup?
05. Chinese Highlighter Pen 🖍
Highlighter pens are used for marking important information in textbooks notes and documents. Whether you’re studying Chinese vocabulary preparing for exams or organizing notes a 荧光笔 (yíngguāngbǐ) is an essential school supply.
荧光笔
yíngguāngbǐ
highlighter (pen)
(lit. “fluorescent-pen”)
NOTE
The term “荧光” (yíngguāng) refers describing the bright ink colors that stand out on paper.
Example Sentence:
你可以借我一支荧光笔吗？
Nǐ kěyǐ jiè wǒ yì zhī yíngguāngbǐ ma?
Can you lend me a highlighter?
06. Chinese Pencil ✏️
For those who prefer using pencils for writing or taking notes a 铅笔 (qiānbǐ) is a must have in every student’s schoolbag.
铅笔
qiānbǐ
pencil
(lit. “lead-pen”)
NOTE
The character “铅” (qiān) means lead referring to the pencil’s core while “笔” (bǐ) simply means pen or writing tool. Although modern pencils contain graphite instead of actual lead the name remains unchanged.
Example Sentence:
我可以借你的铅笔吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ jiè nǐ de qiānbǐ ma?
Can I borrow your pencil?
07.Chinese Pen 🖊
Pens are for writing notetaking and drawing In Chinese the word 笔 (bǐ) is a general term for any writing including traditional and modern pens.
笔
bǐ
pen
There is a wide variety of different types of pens you can choose from:
- 钢笔 (gāngbǐ) • fountain pen
“钢” means “steel”, the material commonly used for the pen’s nib. - 圆珠笔 (yuánzhūbǐ) • ballpoint pen
“圆珠” means “ball” referring to the small ball bearing at the tip that dispenses ink. - 凝胶笔 (níngjībǐ) • gel pen
“凝胶” means “gel”. - 毛笔 (máobǐ) • traditional Chinese calligraphy brush
“毛” refers to the brush’s bristles.
08. Chinese Eraser ✏️
橡 (xiàng) means oak and 皮 (pí) means skin referring to the material traditionally used in early erasers.
橡皮
xiàngpí
eraser
(lit. “oak-skin”)
Types of Erasers in Chinese:
✅ 橡皮擦 (xiàngpícā) Rubber Eraser
“擦” (cā) means to wipe or erase This is the full term for a standard eraser
✅ 塑料橡皮 (sùliào xiàngpí) Plastic Eraser
“塑料” (sùliào) means plastic often referring to the harder type of erasers
✅ 可擦笔橡皮 (kěcābǐ xiàngpí) Eraser for Erasable Pens
“可擦” (kěcā) means erasable used for special erasable ink pens
Usage Tip:
The measure word for an eraser is “块” (kuài) meaning a piece or chunk.
你有一块橡皮可以借给我吗？
Nǐ yǒu yí kuài xiàngpí kěyǐ jiè gěi wǒ ma?
Do you have an eraser I can borrow?
09. Chinese Mobile Phone 📱
手 (shǒu) means hand and 机 (jī) means machine literally translating to “hand machine” in Chinese.
手机
shǒujī
mobile phone
(lit. “hand-machine”)
Types of Mobile Phones in Chinese:
✅ 智能手机 (zhìnéng shǒujī) Smartphone
“智能” (zhìnéng) means intelligent referring to modern touchscreen smartphones
✅ 按键手机 (ànjiàn shǒujī) Button Phone
“按键” (ànjiàn) means button referring to older non touchscreen phones
✅ 折叠手机 (zhédié shǒujī) Flip Phone
“折叠” (zhédié) means to fold used for flip or foldable phones
✅ 游戏手机 (yóuxì shǒujī) Gaming Phone
“游戏” (yóuxì) means game used for high performance gaming smartphones
Usage Tip:
The measure word for a phone is “部” (bù), meaning a unit of a device.
Example Sentence:
你用什么手机?
Nǐ yòng shénme shǒujī?
What mobile phone do you use?
Take It Further
Now it’s your turn to share with us in comments!
你的书包里有什么呢？
Nǐ de shūbāo li yǒu shénme ne?
What’s inside your schoolbag?
lit. “You-[de]-schoolbag-in-have-what-[ne]?
💡 Try answering in Chinese! Use you just learned and tell us what you carry every day.
Example Answer:
我的书包里有一本课本、一个笔记本和一支铅笔。
Wǒ de shūbāo lǐ yǒu yì běn kèběn yí gè bǐjìběn hé yì zhī qiānbǐ.
(I have a textbook a notebook and a pencil in my schoolbag.
FAQs: What’s in a Student’s Schoolbag?
1. How to say “schoolbag” in Mandarin?
In Chinese “schoolbag” is 书包 (shūbāo) where 书 (shū) means “book” and 包 (bāo) means “bag.
2. What are common school supplies in Mandarin?
Here are some Chinese common school items in Mandarin
- 书 (shū) – Book
- 课本 (kèběn) – Textbook
- 笔记本 (bǐjìběn) – Notebook
- 铅笔 (qiānbǐ) – Pencil
- 钢笔 (gāngbǐ) – Fountain pen
- 橡皮 (xiàngpí) – Eraser
- 荧光笔 (yíngguāngbǐ) – Highlighter
3. How to say “What’s in your Chinese schoolbag?” in Mandarin?
You can ask:
你的书包里有什么呢？
Nǐ de shūbāo lǐ yǒu shénme ne?
What’s inside your schoolbag?
4. What’s the measure word for books and notebooks?
The measure word for books is 本 (běn) For example:
- 一本书 (yì běn shū) One book
- 一本课本 (yì běn kèběn) One textbook
- 一本笔记本 (yì běn bǐjìběn) One notebook
5. How to ask for a pen in Chinese?
You can say:
请给我一支笔。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhī bǐ.
Please give me a pen.
支 (zhī) is the measure word for pens.
