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March 24, 2026
校长(校長)xiàozhǎng(xiao4zhang3)
校长 (xiàozhǎng) refers to the headmaster of a school or the president of a college or university. This term is commonly used in educational contexts to denote the highest authority in an institution, responsible for administrative decisions and leadership.
Frequency#2535DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, the role of a 校长 is not only administrative but also carries significant influence in shaping the school's culture and policies. The 校长 often participates in community events, reflecting the school's values.
Memory Tip
Think of 校 (xiào) as a 'school' and 长 (zhǎng) as 'leader' or 'long'. Imagine a tall figure, the 'leader' of the school, standing at the entrance, welcoming students. This image connects the character's meaning to its pronunciation.
Meanings of 校长
xiàozhǎng(xiao4zhang3)
1(college, university) president
2headmaster
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About 校长
校长Simplified
校長Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2535Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 校长
Podcast: 校长
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AI Study Notes for 校长
Quick Contrast
副校长 (fùxiàozhǎng) refers to the vice-principal or deputy headmaster, while 校长 (xiàozhǎng) specifically denotes the principal or headmaster.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 校 (xiào) as a 'school' and 长 (zhǎng) as 'leader' or 'long'. Imagine a tall figure, the 'leader' of the school, standing at the entrance, welcoming students. This image connects the character's meaning to its pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tones; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstanding. 校长 is typically used in formal contexts, so it may not be appropriate in casual conversations. Common collocations include '校长办公室' (xiàozhǎng bàngōngshì - principal's office) and '校长的讲话' (xiàozhǎng de jiǎnghuà - principal's speech).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 校长 connects to other educational terminology, such as 学校 (xuéxiào - school) and 学生 (xuéshēng - student). Focus on using it in sentences that describe roles within schools or universities.
Cultural Note
In China, the role of a 校长 is not only administrative but also carries significant influence in shaping the school's culture and policies. The 校长 often participates in community events, reflecting the school's values.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 校长 with other titles like 老师 (lǎoshī - teacher) or 学生 (xuéshēng - student), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我是一校长' (Wǒ shì yī xiàozhǎng - I am a student) instead of '我是一名学生' (Wǒ shì yī míng xuéshēng - I am a student).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 校长
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Grammar Patterns of 校长
校长 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In China, the role of a 校长 is not only administrative but also carries significant influence in shaping the school's culture and policies. The 校长 often participates in community events, reflecting the school's values.
Frequently Asked Questions about 校长
校长 refers to the head of the school or university, while 教授 (jiàoshòu) means 'professor', a teaching position within the institution.
Yes, 校长 can refer to the head of any educational institution, including primary and secondary schools.
校长 is a formal term used in educational contexts, so it should be used appropriately when discussing school leadership.