Recess Vocabulary in Traditional Chinese: 80+ Playground Words & Phrases for Beginners

Learn the stuff you actually say outside the classroom: 下課時間 words, games, rules, and mini sentences (with pinyin + audio).

Traditional Chinese topic title: 下課時間（Recess）

This list gives you Traditional Chinese (Hanzi), pinyin with tone marks, clear meanings, and real kid-logic examples you can copy.

Tap the speaker buttons to hear Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation. Then go join the chaos on the playground like you belong there.

Recess essentials you’ll use on day one

下課時間

xiàkè shíjiān

recess / break time

下課時間我們去操場。

Xiàkè shíjiān wǒmen qù cāochǎng.

At recess, we go to the playground.

操場

cāochǎng

playground field / sports ground

操場上很多人在跑。

Cāochǎng shàng hěn duō rén zài pǎo.

Lots of people are running on the field.

排隊

páiduì

line up

要玩溜滑梯先排隊。

Yào wán liúhuátī xiān páiduì.

To use the slide, line up first.

輪流

lúnliú

take turns

我們輪流盪鞦韆。

Wǒmen lúnliú dàng qiūqiān.

We take turns on the swing.

溜滑梯

liúhuátī

slide

他從溜滑梯滑下來。

Tā cóng liúhuátī huá xiàlái.

He slides down the slide.

盪鞦韆

dàng qiūqiān

swing

你想盪鞦韆嗎？

Nǐ xiǎng dàng qiūqiān ma?

Do you want to swing?

躲避球

duǒbìqiú

dodgeball

我們下課打躲避球。

Wǒmen xiàkè dǎ duǒbìqiú.

We play dodgeball at recess.

喝水

hē shuǐ

drink water

跑完要去喝水。

Pǎo wán yào qù hē shuǐ.

After running, go drink water.

Recess phrases kids actually say

一起去操場吧！

yìqǐ qù cāochǎng ba!

Let’s go to the playground together!

下課了，一起去操場吧！

Xiàkè le, yìqǐ qù cāochǎng ba!

Recess is here—let’s go to the playground!

你要一起玩嗎？

nǐ yào yìqǐ wán ma?

Wanna play together?

我們在踢足球，你要一起玩嗎？

Wǒmen zài tī zúqiú, nǐ yào yìqǐ wán ma?

We’re playing soccer—wanna join?

輪到你了！

lún dào nǐ le!

It’s your turn!

我玩完了，輪到你了！

Wǒ wán wán le, lún dào nǐ le!

I’m done—your turn!

等一下！

děng yíxià!

Wait a sec!

等一下，我綁鞋帶。

Děng yíxià, wǒ bǎng xiédài.

Wait—let me tie my shoelaces.

借我一下，好嗎？

jiè wǒ yíxià, hǎo ma?

Can I borrow it for a moment?

你的跳繩可以借我一下，好嗎？

Nǐ de tiàoshéng kěyǐ jiè wǒ yíxià, hǎo ma?

Can I borrow your jump rope for a bit?

我們玩捉迷藏吧。

wǒmen wán zhuōmícáng ba.

Let’s play hide-and-seek.

這裡有樹，我們玩捉迷藏吧。

Zhèlǐ yǒu shù, wǒmen wán zhuōmícáng ba.

There are trees here—let’s play hide-and-seek.

不要推！

bú yào tuī!

Don’t push!

不要推，會跌倒。

Bú yào tuī, huì diēdǎo.

Don’t push—you’ll make someone fall.

小心！

xiǎoxīn!

Careful!

小心！後面有人跑過來。

Xiǎoxīn! Hòumiàn yǒu rén pǎo guòlái.

Careful! Someone’s running up behind you.

你沒事吧？

nǐ méi shì ba?

Are you okay?

你跌倒了？你沒事吧？

Nǐ diēdǎo le? Nǐ méi shì ba?

You fell? Are you okay?

我去上廁所。

wǒ qù shàng cèsuǒ.

I’m going to the bathroom.

等我一下，我去上廁所。

Děng wǒ yíxià, wǒ qù shàng cèsuǒ.

Wait for me—I’m going to the bathroom.

老師來了！

lǎoshī lái le!

The teacher is coming!

快排好！老師來了！

Kuài pái hǎo! Lǎoshī lái le!

Line up fast! The teacher’s coming!

下課要結束了。

xiàkè yào jiéshù le.

Recess is about to end.

聽到鐘聲，下課要結束了。

Tīng dào zhōngshēng, xiàkè yào jiéshù le.

When the bell rings, recess is about to end.

我們回教室吧。

wǒmen huí jiàoshì ba.

Let’s go back to the classroom.

上課鈴響了，我們回教室吧。

Shàngkè líng xiǎng le, wǒmen huí jiàoshì ba.

The class bell rang—let’s head back.

下次再玩！

xiàcì zài wán!

Let’s play next time!

今天時間不夠，下次再玩！

Jīntiān shíjiān bú gòu, xiàcì zài wán!

Not enough time today—next time!

A tiny bit of “why do they say it like that?”

下課 (xiàkè) literally means “class is over,” and it often gets used like “it’s break time now.” If you want to be extra clear, say 下課時間 (recess time) or 休息時間 (break time).

Also, 操場 is the classic school field. 遊樂場 leans more “playground equipment area” (slides, swings, climbing frame). Same vibe, different corner of the chaos.

Recess Vocabulary Table

Places & people

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
學校	xuéxiào	school	我在學校上課。 Wǒ zài xuéxiào shàngkè.	I have class at school.
校園	xiàoyuán	campus / school grounds	校園裡有很多樹。 Xiàoyuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō shù.	There are many trees on the school grounds.
教室	jiàoshì	classroom	下課後我們回教室。 Xiàkè hòu wǒmen huí jiàoshì.	After recess, we go back to the classroom.
走廊	zǒuláng	hallway	不要在走廊奔跑。 Bú yào zài zǒuláng bēnpǎo.	Don’t run in the hallway.
樓梯	lóutī	stairs	上樓梯要慢慢走。 Shàng lóutī yào mànman zǒu.	Go slowly on the stairs.
操場	cāochǎng	school field / playground area	我們在操場集合。 Wǒmen zài cāochǎng jíhé.	We gather on the field.
遊樂場	yóulèchǎng	playground (equipment area)	遊樂場有溜滑梯。 Yóulèchǎng yǒu liúhuátī.	The playground has a slide.
籃球場	lánqiúchǎng	basketball court	他們在籃球場打球。 Tāmen zài lánqiúchǎng dǎqiú.	They’re playing ball on the basketball court.
飲水機	yǐnshuǐjī	water fountain / water dispenser	我在飲水機旁喝水。 Wǒ zài yǐnshuǐjī páng hē shuǐ.	I drink water by the fountain.
洗手台	xǐshǒutái	sink / wash area	吃點心前先去洗手台洗手。 Chī diǎnxīn qián xiān qù xǐshǒutái xǐshǒu.	Before snacks, wash your hands at the sink.
廁所	cèsuǒ	restroom / bathroom	我想去廁所。 Wǒ xiǎng qù cèsuǒ.	I want to go to the bathroom.
值日老師	zhírì lǎoshī	teacher on duty	值日老師在門口看著。 Zhírì lǎoshī zài ménkǒu kànzhe.	The teacher on duty is watching at the entrance.
同學	tóngxué	classmate	我跟同學一起玩。 Wǒ gēn tóngxué yìqǐ wán.	I play with my classmates.
低年級	dī niánjí	lower grades	低年級在那邊玩。 Dī niánjí zài nàbiān wán.	The younger kids are playing over there.

Playground equipment & things

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
溜滑梯	liúhuátī	slide	溜滑梯有點燙。 Liúhuátī yǒudiǎn tàng.	The slide is a bit hot.
盪鞦韆	dàng qiūqiān	swing	盪鞦韆要抓緊。 Dàng qiūqiān yào zhuā jǐn.	Hold tight when swinging.
攀爬架	pānpájià	climbing frame	她在攀爬架上爬。 Tā zài pānpájià shàng pá.	She’s climbing on the frame.
沙坑	shākēng	sandbox	我們在沙坑堆城堡。 Wǒmen zài shākēng duī chéngbǎo.	We build a sandcastle in the sandbox.
跳繩	tiàoshéng	jump rope	我會跳繩一百下。 Wǒ huì tiàoshéng yì bǎi xià.	I can jump rope 100 times.
球	qiú	ball	這顆球很彈。 Zhè kē qiú hěn tán.	This ball is bouncy.
籃球	lánqiú	basketball	我帶籃球來學校。 Wǒ dài lánqiú lái xuéxiào.	I brought a basketball to school.
足球	zúqiú	soccer / soccer ball	我們下課踢足球。 Wǒmen xiàkè tī zúqiú.	We play soccer at recess.
排球	páiqiú	volleyball	他們在打排球。 Tāmen zài dǎ páiqiú.	They’re playing volleyball.
羽毛球	yǔmáoqiú	badminton	我跟朋友打羽毛球。 Wǒ gēn péngyǒu dǎ yǔmáoqiú.	I play badminton with a friend.
飛盤	fēipán	frisbee	把飛盤丟給我！ Bǎ fēipán diū gěi wǒ!	Throw the frisbee to me!
呼拉圈	hūlāquān	hula hoop	她會轉呼拉圈。 Tā huì zhuǎn hūlāquān.	She can spin a hula hoop.
沙包	shābāo	beanbag	我們用沙包玩遊戲。 Wǒmen yòng shābāo wán yóuxì.	We use beanbags to play a game.
粉筆	fěnbǐ	chalk	我用粉筆畫跳房子。 Wǒ yòng fěnbǐ huà tiàofángzi.	I draw hopscotch with chalk.
護膝	hùxī	knee pads	溜直排輪要戴護膝。 Liū zhípáilún yào dài hùxī.	Wear knee pads when rollerblading.

Games

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
捉迷藏	zhuōmícáng	hide-and-seek	我們在玩捉迷藏。 Wǒmen zài wán zhuōmícáng.	We’re playing hide-and-seek.
鬼抓人	guǐ zhuā rén	tag	下課我們玩鬼抓人。 Xiàkè wǒmen wán guǐ zhuā rén.	At recess we play tag.
跳房子	tiàofángzi	hopscotch	她在跳房子，很專心。 Tā zài tiàofángzi, hěn zhuānxīn.	She’s playing hopscotch, very focused.
拔河	báhé	tug-of-war	我們分兩隊拔河。 Wǒmen fēn liǎng duì báhé.	We split into two teams for tug-of-war.
躲避球	duǒbìqiú	dodgeball	打躲避球要注意安全。 Dǎ duǒbìqiú yào zhùyì ānquán.	Play dodgeball safely.
丟沙包	diū shābāo	beanbag throwing game	他們在玩丟沙包。 Tāmen zài wán diū shābāo.	They’re playing the beanbag game.
猜拳	cāiquán	rock-paper-scissors	我們用猜拳決定誰先。 Wǒmen yòng cāiquán juédìng shéi xiān.	We use RPS to decide who goes first.
躲貓貓	duǒ māo māo	hide-and-seek (cute)	小朋友在玩躲貓貓。 Xiǎo péngyǒu zài wán duǒ māo māo.	Little kids are playing hide-and-seek.
踢毽子	tī jiànzi	kick shuttlecock (jianzi)	我們在踢毽子，比誰踢得久。 Wǒmen zài tī jiànzi, bǐ shéi tī de jiǔ.	We’re playing jianzi—seeing who can keep it up longer.
直排輪	zhípáilún	inline skates / rollerblading	他下課溜直排輪。 Tā xiàkè liū zhípáilún.	He rollerblades at recess.
彈珠	tánzhū	marbles	他帶彈珠來玩。 Tā dài tánzhū lái wán.	He brought marbles to play.

Actions & rules (a.k.a. “how to not get in trouble”)

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
跑步	pǎobù	run (as an activity)	下課我會去操場跑步。 Xiàkè wǒ huì qù cāochǎng pǎobù.	At recess I run on the field.
奔跑	bēnpǎo	run around / sprint	走廊不能奔跑。 Zǒuláng bùnéng bēnpǎo.	No running in the hallway.
走路	zǒulù	walk	在樓梯要走路，不要跑。 Zài lóutī yào zǒulù, bú yào pǎo.	Walk on the stairs—don’t run.
跳	tiào	jump	他跳得很高。 Tā tiào de hěn gāo.	He jumps very high.
爬	pá	climb	不要爬到欄杆上。 Bú yào pá dào lángān shàng.	Don’t climb onto the railing.
踢	tī	kick	不要對著人踢球。 Bú yào duìzhe rén tī qiú.	Don’t kick the ball at people.
丟	diū	throw	不要亂丟東西。 Bú yào luàn diū dōngxi.	Don’t throw things around.
接球	jiēqiú	catch a ball	我不太會接球。 Wǒ bú tài huì jiēqiú.	I’m not great at catching a ball.
傳球	chuánqiú	pass the ball	快傳球給我！ Kuài chuánqiú gěi wǒ!	Pass the ball to me!
拍球	pāiqiú	dribble (basketball)	他在籃球場拍球。 Tā zài lánqiúchǎng pāiqiú.	He’s dribbling on the basketball court.
排隊	páiduì	line up	下課買點心要排隊。 Xiàkè mǎi diǎnxīn yào páiduì.	At recess, line up to buy snacks.
輪流	lúnliú	take turns	玩遊戲要輪流。 Wán yóuxì yào lúnliú.	Take turns when playing games.
分享	fēnxiǎng	share	你可以跟我分享嗎？ Nǐ kěyǐ gēn wǒ fēnxiǎng ma?	Can you share with me?
借	jiè	borrow / lend	我可以借你的跳繩嗎？ Wǒ kěyǐ jiè nǐ de tiàoshéng ma?	Can I borrow your jump rope?
還	huán	return (an item)	用完記得還我。 Yòng wán jìde huán wǒ.	Remember to return it after you’re done.
集合	jíhé	gather / assemble	聽到鈴聲要集合。 Tīng dào língshēng yào jíhé.	Gather when you hear the bell.
守規矩	shǒu guījǔ	follow rules	在操場要守規矩。 Zài cāochǎng yào shǒu guījǔ.	Follow the rules on the playground.
安全	ānquán	safe / safety	安全第一。 Ānquán dì yī.	Safety first.
小心	xiǎoxīn	be careful	小心不要跌倒。 Xiǎoxīn bú yào diēdǎo.	Be careful not to fall.
受傷	shòushāng	get hurt / injured	他跌倒受傷了。 Tā diēdǎo shòushāng le.	He fell and got hurt.
喝水	hē shuǐ	drink water	天氣很熱，記得喝水。 Tiānqì hěn rè, jìde hē shuǐ.	It’s hot—remember to drink water.
休息	xiūxi	rest	我想休息一下。 Wǒ xiǎng xiūxi yíxià.	I want to rest a bit.

Time & school schedule words

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
下課	xiàkè	class is over / recess starts	下課了！我們出去。 Xiàkè le! Wǒmen chūqù.	Class is over! Let’s go out.
上課	shàngkè	class starts / attend class	上課要準時。 Shàngkè yào zhǔnshí.	Be on time for class.
休息時間	xiūxi shíjiān	break time	休息時間只有十分鐘。 Xiūxi shíjiān zhǐ yǒu shí fēnzhōng.	Break time is only ten minutes.
課間休息	kèjiān xiūxi	between-class break	課間休息不要吵到別班。 Kèjiān xiūxi bú yào chǎo dào bié bān.	Don’t disturb other classes during the break.
鐘聲	zhōngshēng	bell sound	鐘聲一響就要回來。 Zhōngshēng yì xiǎng jiù yào huílái.	Come back when the bell rings.
上課鈴	shàngkè líng	class bell	聽到上課鈴要回教室。 Tīng dào shàngkè líng yào huí jiàoshì.	Return to the classroom when you hear the class bell.
下課鈴	xiàkè líng	recess bell	下課鈴一響大家就跑出去。 Xiàkè líng yì xiǎng dàjiā jiù pǎo chūqù.	When the recess bell rings, everyone runs out.
十分鐘	shí fēnzhōng	ten minutes	我們只有十分鐘可以玩。 Wǒmen zhǐ yǒu shí fēnzhōng kěyǐ wán.	We only have ten minutes to play.
打掃	dǎsǎo	clean up	下課後要打掃。 Xiàkè hòu yào dǎsǎo.	After recess, we clean up.

Feelings & social words

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
開心	kāixīn	happy	我今天很開心。 Wǒ jīntiān hěn kāixīn.	I’m very happy today.
興奮	xīngfèn	excited	聽到下課鈴我很興奮。 Tīng dào xiàkè líng wǒ hěn xīngfèn.	The recess bell makes me excited.
無聊	wúliáo	bored	沒人玩我覺得無聊。 Méi rén wán wǒ juéde wúliáo.	I feel bored when no one plays with me.
緊張	jǐnzhāng	nervous	第一次打躲避球有點緊張。 Dì yī cì dǎ duǒbìqiú yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.	I’m a bit nervous playing dodgeball for the first time.
生氣	shēngqì	angry	他被推到就生氣了。 Tā bèi tuī dào jiù shēngqì le.	He got angry after being pushed.
吵架	chǎojià	argue	不要為了球吵架。 Bú yào wèile qiú chǎojià.	Don’t argue over the ball.
和好	héhǎo	make up	吵架後我們又和好了。 Chǎojià hòu wǒmen yòu héhǎo le.	We made up after arguing.
朋友	péngyǒu	friend	我在學校交到新朋友。 Wǒ zài xuéxiào jiāo dào xīn péngyǒu.	I made a new friend at school.
一起	yìqǐ	together	我們一起玩吧。 Wǒmen yìqǐ wán ba.	Let’s play together.
加入	jiārù	join	你可以加入我們。 Nǐ kěyǐ jiārù wǒmen.	You can join us.
謝謝	xièxie	thanks	謝謝你借我跳繩。 Xièxie nǐ jiè wǒ tiàoshéng.	Thanks for lending me the jump rope.
對不起	duìbuqǐ	sorry	對不起，我不小心撞到你。 Duìbuqǐ, wǒ bù xiǎoxīn zhuàng dào nǐ.	Sorry—I bumped into you by accident.
沒關係	méi guānxi	it’s okay / no problem	沒關係，你不是故意的。 Méi guānxi, nǐ bú shì gùyì de.	It’s okay—you didn’t do it on purpose.
沒事	méi shì	I’m fine / it’s okay	我沒事，謝謝。 Wǒ méi shì, xièxie.	I’m fine, thanks.

Helpful variants (synonyms + “counts” for games)

Type	Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning / when to use
Time	下課時間	xiàkè shíjiān	recess time (very clear and common)
Time	休息時間	xiūxi shíjiān	break time (works for any break, not only school)
Time	課間休息	kèjiān xiūxi	between-class break (a bit more “school-y”)
Place	操場	cāochǎng	school field (running, sports, big open space)
Place	遊樂場	yóulèchǎng	playground (slides/swings area)
Counting	一局	yì jú	one round (of a game)
Counting	一場	yì chǎng	one match (sports/game)
Counting	一輪	yì lún	one turn / one cycle (taking turns)
Counting	一次	yí cì	one time (very general and super useful)
Counting	一節課	yì jié kè	one class period