Usage note
下课是指课程结束的时候。
xià kè shì zhǐ kèchéng jiésù de shíhou.
下课 means when a class ends.
Context note
下课通常在课堂结束后使用，比如老师说‘下课了’。
xià kè tōngcháng zài kǎotáng jiéhòu shǐyòng, bǐrú lǎoshī shuō ‘xià kè le’.
下课 is commonly used after a class ends, for example when the teacher says '下课了'.
5 examples
老师说下课。
lǎo shī shuō xià kè。
The teacher says it's time to finish class.
下课后我们可以休息。
xià kè hòu wǒ men kě yǐ xiū xi。
After class, we can have a rest.
下课铃响了。
xià kè líng xiǎng le。
The bell for the end of class rang.
我们等下课再玩。
wǒ men děng xià kè zài wán。
We will play after class.
下课时间到了。
xià kè shí jiān dào le。
It's time for recess now.
5 mini stories
小明和同学们一起下课了，他们去操场玩。
xiǎo míng hé tóng xué men yì qǐ xià kè le， tā men qù cāo chǎng wán。
Xiaoming and his classmates finished class together, they went to the playground to play.
老师说下课后可以喝水。
lǎo shī shuō xià kè hòu kě yǐ hē shuǐ。
The teacher said we could have water after class.
小红等下课了才开始写作业。
xiǎo hóng děng xià kè le cái kāi shǐ xiě zuò yè。
Xiaohong only started doing her homework after class.
下课铃响了，同学们都出去玩了。
xià kè líng xiǎng le， tóng xué men dōu chū qù wán le。
The bell for the end of class rang, and all the students went out to play.
下课时间到了，老师布置了家庭作业。
xià kè shí jiān dào le， lǎo shī bù zhì le jiā tíng zuò yè。
It's time for recess, and the teacher assigned homework.
Mini dialogue
课间休息
A
下课了，我们去喝水吧。
Xià kè le, wǒmen qù hē shuǐ ba.
Class is over, let's go drink some water.
B
好，我等你。
Hǎo, wǒ děng nǐ.
Okay, I'll wait for you.
放学
A
几点下课？
Jǐ diǎn xià kè?
What time does class finish?
B
三点下课。
Sān diǎn xià kè.
Class finishes at three o'clock.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
上课
shàng kè
to start class; to attend class
上课 means to start class, opposite of 下课.
similar
放学
fàng xué
school is over; to finish school for the day
放学 means school finishes for the day, similar to 下课.