Understanding "高考" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 高考
• Pinyin: gāo kǎo
• Literal Meaning: “high exam” or “advanced examination” (高 = high/advanced; 考 = exam/test)
• Primary Meaning: China’s National College Entrance Examination, commonly known in English as the gaokao. It is the nationwide standardized test that largely determines which university a student can attend.

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage: 高考 is used as a noun for the exam itself and, more broadly, for the whole high-stakes process around it—preparation, test days, scores, and university admission. You will hear it constantly in conversations about high-school seniors (高三学生), family pressure, summer plans, and news reports every June. It is not a general word for “any exam”; for ordinary tests people usually say 考试 (kǎoshì). 高考 specifically points to this national college-entrance exam (or, in casual speech, the experience of taking it). Tone is often serious or emotional, because results can shape a student’s educational path for years.
• Character Breakdown:
• 高 (gāo): high, tall, or advanced. In education it often marks a higher level, as in 高中 (gāozhōng, senior high school) or 高等教育 (gāoděng jiàoyù, higher education).
• 考 (kǎo): to examine, to test, or an exam. It appears in words such as 考试 (kǎoshì, test/exam) and 考生 (kǎoshēng, exam candidate).
• Together, 高考 is a shortened form of 普通高等学校招生全国统一考试, “the national unified examination for admission to regular institutions of higher education.”

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 他今年要参加高考。
• Pinyin: Tā jīnnián yào cānjiā gāokǎo.

• English: He is going to take the gaokao this year.

• Chinese: 高考对很多中国家庭来说都是一件大事。

• Pinyin: Gāokǎo duì hěn duō Zhōngguó jiātíng lái shuō dōu shì yí jiàn dàshì.

• English: The gaokao is a major event for many Chinese families.

• Chinese: 她高考成绩很好，被一所名牌大学录取了。

• Pinyin: Tā gāokǎo chéngjì hěn hǎo, bèi yì suǒ míngpái dàxué lùqǔ le.
• English: Her gaokao scores were excellent, and she was admitted to a prestigious university.

Cultural Notes (if applicable)

The gaokao is one of the most important rites of passage in modern China. It is usually held over two or three days in early June. Millions of students sit the exam at the same time, and cities often adjust traffic, construction noise, and even flight paths near test sites so candidates are not disturbed. Subjects typically include Chinese, mathematics, and a foreign language, plus other subjects that vary by province and academic track.

Scores are the main basis for university admission, so preparation can dominate the final years of high school. Families, teachers, and the media treat the period with intense focus; phrases like 高考加油 (“Go for it on the gaokao”) are common encouragement. At the same time, public discussion increasingly includes stress, fairness between regions, and alternative paths such as vocational education or studying abroad. For learners, knowing 高考 helps you understand a huge part of Chinese school life, news, films, and family conversation.

Conclusion

高考 (gāo kǎo) means China’s National College Entrance Examination—the “high exam” that decides university admission for most students. Remember it as the specific, high-stakes national test, not a word for exams in general, and you will recognize it immediately in news, classrooms, and everyday talk about senior year.

Sources and Further Reading

• MDBG Chinese Dictionary: 高考
• Wiktionary: 高考
• HSK vocabulary reference dataset

Dictionary links are provided for independent reference. Example sentences and learning notes on this page are educational explanations rather than dictionary quotations.