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printed or digital resources used for teaching or learning, such as textbooks, workbooks, or online modules
老师根据教材设计了课程。
The teacher designed the course based on the teaching material.
这套教材包含了练习册和配套光盘。
This set of teaching materials includes a workbook and accompanying CDs.
教材 emphasizes structured content designed for educational purposes, often used in schools, training programs, or self-study contexts.
教材 is a broader term that includes 教科书 (textbooks) but also encompasses workbooks, online modules, videos, and other supplementary resources. 教科书 specifically refers to the main textbook used in a course.
Use 教材 when referring to any structured educational resource, not just printed textbooks. This includes digital materials, multimedia content, or even a single worksheet designed for teaching.
教 (jiào) means 'to teach' or 'education', and 材 (cái) means 'material' or 'resources'. The compound 教材 (jiàocái) literally translates to 'teaching material', reflecting its purpose in education.
教材 is a formal term commonly used in educational contexts, including schools, universities, and training institutions. It can refer to both physical books and digital resources. In contrast, 教科书 (textbook) is a more specific type of 教材.