<p>&quot;三下&quot; in the school system means &quot;三年級下學期 - third grade second semester&quot;.</p>
<p>Note that Chinese education uses a semester system, each school year consists of two semesters - the first semester (上學期) and the second semester (下學期). The grade classification for grades one through twelve are:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>小學 - 1 thru 6</p>
</li>
<li><p>初中(初級中學) - 7(初ㄧ) thru 9(初三)</p>
</li>
<li><p>高中(高級中學) - 10(高ㄧ) thru (高三)</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-16T12:27:09.317Z
So 丙班 does not mean "third grade", as I interpreted it, but rather Class 3? That is, third grade, second semester, class 3.
timseb
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-16T12:39:47.283Z
Yes, 丙班 means "the class 丙". Note that "甲,乙,丙,丁..." is one of the class naming systems for the classes in the same grade.
r13
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-17T13:06:35.517Z
btw, 丙班 of third grade can be simply referred to as '三丙'
Clay Hsu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-18T06:49:10.027Z
In fact, even today we still often say "三下" to mean "三年級下學期". But it is a little strange to use "上/下學期" when talking about a class, because every grade and every class is in the same semester. It is impossible that a class is at the first semester when another class is at the second semester. Maybe in 1970's Taipei there is something different.
Krahmal
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-18T06:57:17.190Z
Now days Chinese have March~July as 上學期, September~January/February as 下學期. Others are summer/winter holiday. Some university has the third semester 小學期.
Krahmal
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-16T11:33:50.907Z
2022-07-16T13:28:42.877Z
2022-07-16T13:28:42.877Z
r13
<p>According to my understanding from a book I'm currently re-reading, &quot;三下&quot; means &quot;the final semester&quot;. I'm guessing 下 here means the latter half of something, but why 三? If it's at all relevant, the book is set in 1970's Taipei.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>间部三下丙班学生</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>a night-school student in the final semester of his senior year</p>
</blockquote>

<meaning-in-context>
How should I understand 三下 in the context of the Chinese school system?
# How should I understand 三下 in the context of the Chinese school system?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-07-16)

According to my understanding from a book I'm currently re-reading, "三下" means "the final semester". I'm guessing 下 here means the latter half of something, but why 三? If it's at all relevant, the book is set in 1970's Taipei.

> 间部三下丙班学生

> a night-school student in the final semester of his senior year

**Tags:** meaning-in-context


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-07-16. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

"三下" in the school system means "三年級下學期 - third grade second semester".

Note that Chinese education uses a semester system, each school year consists of two semesters - the first semester (上學期) and the second semester (下學期). The grade classification for grades one through twelve are:

* 小學 - 1 thru 6
* 初中(初級中學) - 7(初ㄧ) thru 9(初三)
* 高中(高級中學) - 10(高ㄧ) thru (高三)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So 丙班 does not mean "third grade", as I interpreted it, but rather Class 3? That is, third grade, second semester, class 3.  
> **username_1**: Yes, 丙班 means "the class 丙". Note that "甲,乙,丙,丁..." is one of the class naming systems for the classes in the same grade.  
> **username_2**: btw, 丙班 of third grade can be simply referred to as '三丙'  
> **username_3**: In fact, even today we still often say "三下" to mean "三年級下學期". But it is a little strange to use "上/下學期" when talking about a class, because every grade and every class is in the same semester. It is impossible that a class is at the first semester when another class is at the second semester. Maybe in 1970's Taipei there is something different.  
> **username_3**: Now days Chinese have March~July as 上學期, September~January/February as 下學期. Others are summer/winter holiday. Some university has the third semester 小學期.  

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