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下班 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
下班xiàbānto finish workHSK 1, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #2782, Easy
下班xiàbānto get off workHSK 1, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #2782, Easy
xiàbān(xia4ban1) T4
  1. 1to finish work
  2. 2to get off work
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March 24, 2026

下班xiàbān(xia4ban1)

下班 (xiàbān) means to finish work or to get off work. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when referring to the end of a workday or the conclusion of one's professional duties.

Strokes13Frequency#2782DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In many Chinese workplaces, a clear distinction is made between work and personal time, and the phrase 下班 signifies the end of a workday when employees often socialize or relax.

Memory Tip

Think of '下' (down) as you 'leave' work, and '班' (class/shift) as the shift you were in. Imagine you are 'moving down' in a classroom as the bell rings, indicating it's time to leave for the day.

Meanings of 下班

xiàbān(xia4ban1)
1to finish work
2to get off work
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About 下班

下班Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1BCT✓CEFRA1

Podcast: 下班

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Podcast: 下班

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AI Study Notes for 下班

Quick Contrast

下课 (xiàkè) - refers specifically to finishing class, while 下班 (xiàbān) is used for finishing work.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 下班 with 上班 (shàngbān), which means to start work. This phrase is often used in casual conversations among colleagues, but can also be appropriate in more formal settings when discussing work hours.

HSK Study Tips

Although 下班 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners at HSK Level 2 and above, as it connects with other work-related vocabulary. Focus on usage in sentences about daily routines.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 下班 with 上班, leading to mistakes like saying '我下班时候去上班' (I will go to work when I finish work) instead of '我下班时候去家' (I will go home when I finish work).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 下班

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Component Characters

下xiàdown
HSK 13 strokes一
View full entry
班bānclass
HSK 210 strokes王
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How to say to finish work in Chinese

“to finish work” in Chinese is下班xiàbān

下班 (xiàbān) means to finish work or to get off work. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when referring to the end of a workday or the conclusion of one's professional duties.

When to use 下班

Be careful not to confuse 下班 with 上班 (shàngbān), which means to start work. This phrase is often used in casual conversations among colleagues, but can also be appropriate in more formal settings when discussing work hours.

下班 or something close to it

下课 (xiàkè) - refers specifically to finishing class, while 下班 (xiàbān) is used for finishing work.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 下班 with 上班, leading to mistakes like saying '我下班时候去上班' (I will go to work when I finish work) instead of '我下班时候去家' (I will go home when I finish work).

Write 下班

下
班

Practice writing 下班 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 下班

No, 下班 specifically refers to finishing work or a work shift. For school, you would use 放学 (fàngxué) to mean finishing classes.

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