Usage note
小学是指孩子们开始学习的基础教育阶段。
xiǎoxué shì zhǐ háizi kěyǐ kāishǐ xuéxí de chūjī jiàoyù zhēngé.
Primary school is the basic education stage where children start learning.
Context note
小学通常在城市和乡村都有，是孩子们从幼儿园进入的第一个正式学校。
xiǎoxué tōngcháng zài chéngshì hé xiāncūn dōu yǒu, shì háizi kěyǐ cóng yuán’é huà nèirù de dìyī gè zhèngshì xuéxiào.
Primary school is usually found in both cities and rural areas, where children enter their first formal school after kindergarten.
5 examples
他上小学一年级。
tā shàng xiǎo xué yī nián jí。
He is in the first grade of primary school.
我们学校有小学部。
wǒ men xué xiào yǒu xiǎo xué bù。
Our school has a primary school department.
小学的课程很有趣。
xiǎo xué de kè chéng hěn yǒu qù。
The courses in primary school are very interesting.
她的小学老师非常亲切。
tā de xiǎo xué lǎo shī fēi cháng qīn qiè。
Her elementary school teacher was very kind.
小学生活很美好。
xiǎo xué shēng huó hěn měi hǎo。
The life in primary school is very beautiful.
5 mini stories
小明上小学了，他很高兴。
xiǎo míng shàng xiǎo xué le， tā hěn gāo xìng。
Xiaoming started primary school and he was very happy.
妈妈送小红去小学读书。
mā ma sòng xiǎo hóng qù xiǎo xué dú shū。
Mom sent Xiaohong to primary school to study.
小学的老师教我们很多知识。
xiǎo xué de lǎo shī jiào wǒ men hěn duō zhī shi。
The teachers in primary school taught us a lot of knowledge.
小华每天早上都去小学上课。
xiǎo huá měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu qù xiǎo xué shàng kè。
Xiaohua goes to primary school for class every morning.
小学的操场很大，孩子们可以在这里玩耍。
xiǎo xué de cāo chǎng hěn dà， hái zi men kě yǐ zài zhè lǐ wán shuǎ。
The playground in primary school is very big and children can play here.
Mini dialogue
上小学
A
你上小学了吗？
Nǐ shàng xiǎoxué le ma?
Are you in primary school?
B
上了，我今年上小学一年级。
Shàng le, wǒ jīnnián shàng xiǎoxué yī niánjí.
Yes, I am in first grade of primary school this year.
小学老师
A
你喜欢小学吗？
Nǐ xǐhuān xiǎoxué ma?
Do you like primary school?
B
喜欢，小学老师很好。
Xǐhuān, xiǎoxué lǎoshī hěn hǎo.
Yes, the primary school teacher is very nice.
Related words and contrasts
similar
学校
xuéxiào
school
general word for school
contrast
中学
zhōngxué
secondary school
next stage after primary school
contrast
幼儿园
yòuéryuán
kindergarten
stage before primary school