The Chinese word for graduation is 毕业 (bì yè), and the most common congratulations phrase is 恭喜毕业 (gōng xǐ bì yè) — but Chinese has a rich set of graduation wishes, farewell expressions, and cultural traditions that go far deeper than that single phrase.

毕业 — The Chinese Word for Graduation

毕业 (bì yè) is the core word for graduation or to graduate.

毕 (bì) — to finish, to complete
业 (yè) — studies, work, career

Together they mean “to complete one’s studies.”

毕业 functions as both a noun and a verb in Chinese. It does not change form.

As a verb:

我毕业了。
Wǒ bì yè le.
I have graduated.

她今年毕业。
Tā jīn nián bì yè.
She is graduating this year.

你从哪个学校毕业？
Nǐ cóng nǎ ge xué xiào bì yè?
Which school did you graduate from?

As a noun/modifier:

毕业典礼 (bì yè diǎn lǐ) — graduation ceremony
毕业证书 (bì yè zhèng shū) — graduation certificate / diploma
毕业生 (bì yè shēng) — graduate
毕业照 (bì yè zhào) — graduation photo
毕业班 (bì yè bān) — graduating class
毕业旅行 (bì yè lǚ xíng) — graduation trip

The 了 (le) pattern:

Note that 毕业了 uses 了 to mark a completed change. This is a natural place to introduce the 了 grammar pattern to children — spring graduation, finished school, something has changed.

Core Graduation Vocabulary

Chinese	Pinyin	English
毕业	bì yè	graduation / to graduate
毕业典礼	bì yè diǎn lǐ	graduation ceremony
毕业证书	bì yè zhèng shū	diploma / graduation certificate
毕业生	bì yè shēng	graduate
毕业班	bì yè bān	graduating class
毕业照	bì yè zhào	graduation photo
毕业旅行	bì yè lǚ xíng	graduation trip
学位	xué wèi	academic degree
校长	xiào zhǎng	headteacher / principal
老师	lǎo shī	teacher
演讲	yǎn jiǎng	speech
学生	xué shēng	student
同学	tóng xué	classmate
毕业歌	bì yè gē	graduation song
未来	wèi lái	future
梦想	mèng xiǎng	dream / ambition
成功	chéng gōng	success
努力	nǔ lì	to work hard / effort
感谢	gǎn xiè	to thank / gratitude

Graduation Congratulations Phrases

Everyday Congratulations

The simplest, most natural way to congratulate a graduate:

恭喜毕业！
Gōng xǐ bì yè!
Congratulations on graduating!

恭喜你顺利毕业！
Gōng xǐ nǐ shùn lì bì yè!
Congratulations on graduating smoothly!

祝贺你完成学业！
Zhù hè nǐ wán chéng xué yè!
Congratulations on completing your studies!

毕业快乐！
Bì yè kuài lè!
Happy graduation! (informal, modelled on 生日快乐)

For a full guide to 恭喜 vs 祝贺 and when to use each, see How to Say Congratulations in Chinese Like a Native.

Wishing Future Success

Chinese graduation wishes look forward. The emphasis is on what comes next — not just finishing, but launching.

前途无量！
Qián tú wú liàng!
You have limitless potential ahead!

前程似锦！
Qián chéng sì jǐn!
Your future is as bright as brocade!

大展宏图！
Dà zhǎn hóng tú!
May you realise your great ambitions!

鹏程万里！
Péng chéng wàn lǐ!
May your journey be as grand as the Peng bird’s flight across ten thousand li!

一帆风顺！
Yī fān fēng shùn!
May you have smooth sailing!

学有所成！
Xué yǒu suǒ chéng!
May your studies bear fruit!

金榜题名！
Jīn bǎng tí míng!
May your name appear on the golden list!
(classical — refers to passing imperial exams; used today for exam success and graduation honours)

Expressing Pride and Happiness

These phrases are used by parents, teachers, and classmates alongside 恭喜.

我为你骄傲。
Wǒ wèi nǐ jiāo’ào.
I am proud of you.

我替你高兴。
Wǒ tì nǐ gāo xìng.
I am happy for you.

你真棒！
Nǐ zhēn bàng!
You’re amazing!

你太厉害了！
Nǐ tài lì hai le!
You’re incredible!

你做到了！
Nǐ zuò dào le!
You did it!

辛苦了！
Xīn kǔ le!
You’ve worked so hard!
(acknowledges the effort, not just the achievement — deeply meaningful in Chinese culture)

辛苦了 deserves special attention. It literally means “you have suffered bitterness.” In context, it is one of the most affirming things you can say — it recognises the hard work and sacrifice behind the achievement. Parents say it to children; teachers say it to students; it is the acknowledgement that the journey was real and difficult.

For more praise phrases suitable for children, see Positive Things to Say to Kids in Chinese and Chinese Compliment Phrases for Kids and Beginners.

Farewell and Goodbye Phrases for Graduation

Graduation is also a farewell. In Chinese, the most poetic farewells are used at exactly this moment — when people are not sure they will see each other again soon.

一路顺风！
Yī lù shùn fēng!)
Have a smooth journey! / Bon voyage!

保持联系！
Bǎo chí lián xì!
Keep in touch!

后会有期！
Hòu huì yǒu qī!
We will meet again!

珍重！
Zhēn zhòng!
Take care of yourself! (formal, warm)

青山不改，绿水长流，后会有期。
Qīng shān bù gǎi, lǜ shuǐ cháng liú, hòu huì yǒu qī.
The green mountains won’t change, the turquoise water flows on — we shall meet again.
(classical farewell; commonly used at graduation)

For the full set of Chinese farewell expressions, see How to Say Goodbye in Chinese Like a Native.

The Four-Character Expressions of Graduation (四字成语)

Classical four-character expressions (四字成语, sì zì chéng yǔ) are the language of formal occasions in Chinese. They appear on graduation banners, in speeches, on cards, and in the ceremonies themselves. Knowing them is a marker of true cultural literacy.

Expression	Pinyin	Meaning	Notes
鹏程万里	péng chéng wàn lǐ	Boundless future	Most beloved graduation wish
前程似锦	qián chéng sì jǐn	Future as bright as brocade	Common on cards and banners
大展宏图	dà zhǎn hóng tú	Realise your grand ambitions	For career beginnings
学有所成	xué yǒu suǒ chéng	Learning bears fruit	Specifically about academic achievement
金榜题名	jīn bǎng tí míng	Name on the golden list	For exam success and graduation honours
一帆风顺	yī fān fēng shùn	Smooth sailing ahead	General good wishes for what lies ahead
步步高升	bù bù gāo shēng	Rise higher with every step	For career and professional progression
万事如意	wàn shì rú yì	May all go as you wish	Any occasion, very versatile
天道酬勤	tiān dào chóu qín	Heaven rewards the diligent	Acknowledges hard work — meaningful at graduation

For children: Start with 鹏程万里 and 前程似锦. These two are the most frequently written on graduation cards and banners, and recognising them gives children an immediate sense of cultural participation.

Graduation by Level — What to Say at Each Stage

Chinese education has distinct milestones. The right phrase varies slightly by level.

Kindergarten Graduation (幼儿园毕业 — yòu’er yuán bì yè)

Kindergarten graduation is a joyful celebration in Chinese culture. Parents dress children in tiny gowns. There are songs, performances, and much photographing.

恭喜宝宝幼儿园毕业了！
Gōng xǐ bǎo bao yòu’er yuán bì yè le!
Congratulations to our little one on graduating from kindergarten!

你长大了！
Nǐ zhǎng dà le!
You’ve grown up!
小学，我们来了！
Xiǎo xué, wǒ men lái le!
Primary school, here we come!

Primary School Graduation (小学毕业 — xiǎo xué bì yè)

恭喜小学毕业！
Gōng xǐ xiǎo xué bì yè!
Congratulations on finishing primary school!

你真的长大了。
Nǐ zhēn de zhǎng dà le.
You’ve really grown up.

中学加油！
Zhōng xué jiā yóu!
Work hard in secondary school! (加油 — “add fuel,” the standard encouragement phrase)

Secondary School Graduation (中学毕业 — zhōng xué bì yè)

Secondary graduation in Chinese-speaking countries is heavily associated with the 中考 (zhōng kǎo — junior high school exam) or 高考 (gāo kǎo — university entrance exam). These exams are the defining milestone.

恭喜高中毕业！(Gōng xǐ gāo zhōng bì yè!) — Congratulations on finishing senior high school! 高考加油！(Gāo kǎo jiā yóu!) — Work hard for the 高考! 金榜题名！(Jīn bǎng tí míng!) — May you pass with flying colours! 梦想成真！(Mèng xiǎng chéng zhēn!) — May your dreams come true!

University Graduation (大学毕业 — dà xué bì yè)

恭喜大学毕业！
Gōng xǐ dà xué bì yè!
Congratulations on graduating from university!

学有所成，前途无量！
Xué yǒu suǒ chéng, qián tú wú liàng!
Your studies have borne fruit — your future is limitless!

鹏程万里！
Péng chéng wàn lǐ!
Boundless future ahead!

踏上社会，一帆风顺！
Tà shàng shè huì, yī fān fēng shùn!
As you step into society, smooth sailing!

Want to send congratulations to graduates?

Here are 8 designs for you. Each design features a unique Chinese and English message, from 恭喜毕业 to 祝你前途无量. Print at home, fold, and give. Perfect for heritage families, Chinese school graduations, and Mandarin immersion classrooms.

Chinese Graduation Traditions — Cultural Background

Understanding the cultural context makes vocabulary meaningful. Here is what graduation looks like in Chinese-speaking communities.

The Graduation Ceremony (毕业典礼)

Chinese graduation ceremonies are formal events. They typically include:

校长演讲 (xiào zhǎng yǎn jiǎng) — the principal’s speech
颁发证书 (bān fā zhèng shū) — presenting diplomas
代表发言 (dài biǎo fā yán) — a speech by a student representative
毕业歌 (bì yè gē) — the graduation song (often 骊歌, lí gē — a farewell song)
毕业照 (bì yè zhào) — group graduation photos, taken very seriously

骊歌 — The Graduation Song

骊歌 (lí gē) literally means “farewell song.” The name refers to any parting song, but in Chinese schools and overseas Chinese communities, it has become almost synonymous with one specific song: 送别 (Sòng Bié — Farewell), written by 李叔同 (Lǐ Shūtóng) in the early Republic era.

The melody comes from American songwriter J.P. Ordway’s 1851 song, via a Japanese arrangement. Li Shutong wrote the Chinese lyrics around 1914–1915 as a farewell to a close friend. Within years it had spread to schools across China. Today it is sung at graduation ceremonies, school farewells, and year-end events throughout Taiwan, Hong Kong, and overseas Chinese communities worldwide.

The song is so associated with ending and parting that 骊歌 has become a synonym for graduation itself. If your child attends a Chinese community school, they will very likely sing it at their graduation ceremony.

送别 — What the Song Is About

词：李叔同 (1880–1942) | 曲：J.P. Ordway, 1851
送别 has two or three verses depending on the version sung. The full lyrics are widely available online and in any Chinese school songbook.

Verse 1 opens at a roadside pavilion (长亭) outside an ancient city gate — the classical Chinese setting for farewells. The imagery is spare: a path, green grass stretching to the horizon, an evening wind moving through willow trees, a flute fading, the sun setting behind mountain after mountain.

Verse 2 shifts from landscape to people. Friends are now scattered to the edges of the earth (天之涯，地之角 — tiān zhī yá, dì zhī jiǎo). A rough jar of wine holds all the remaining joy of the evening. The verse ends with the image of a farewell dream that will be cold tonight. Its central line — 知交半零落 (zhī jiāo bàn líng luò, “close friends have half scattered”) — is the one every graduating class feels most acutely.

Verse 3 (in some versions) returns to the opening landscape, then closes with the most quoted thought in the song: that true reunion is rare in life, and only partings are many (人生难得是欢聚，惟有别离多 — rén shēng nán dé shì huān jù, wéi yǒu bié lí duō).

Vocabulary in 送别

Chinese	Pinyin	English
长亭	cháng tíng	roadside pavilion (traditional farewell spot)
古道	gǔ dào	ancient road
芳草	fāng cǎo	fragrant grass
晚风	wǎn fēng	evening breeze
拂	fú	to brush / to stroke gently
柳	liǔ	willow tree
笛声	dí shēng	sound of a flute
夕阳	xī yáng	setting sun
天涯	tiān yá	edge of the sky / far away
知交	zhī jiāo	close friends / kindred spirits
零落	líng luò	scattered / fallen apart
别梦	bié mèng	farewell dream
寒	hán	cold (here: lonely, desolate)

Why This Song at Graduation

Several images in 送别 carry deep cultural resonance:

长亭 (the roadside pavilion) — in classical Chinese poetry, the 长亭 is the traditional place to say goodbye. Friends would walk a departing traveller to the pavilion outside the city gate and part there. Choosing this image places graduation in a 2,000-year tradition of farewell.

折柳 (breaking a willow branch) — the willow (柳, liǔ) sounds like 留 (liú — to stay, to linger). Giving someone a willow branch was a traditional gesture of farewell, expressing the wish that they would stay. The image of the evening wind in the willows carries all of this.

知交半零落 (close friends half scattered) — this line is the emotional core of why the song resonates at graduation. A class that has been together for years is about to scatter. Half will go one way; half another. The phrase says exactly what every student feels but cannot quite put into words.

For older children and teenagers, spending time with this vocabulary — and understanding why each image was chosen — is a genuine encounter with classical Chinese poetic thinking.

The Importance of 感恩 (gǎn ēn) — Gratitude

Chinese graduation culture places strong emphasis on gratitude — to parents, to teachers, to the school.

感谢老师的教导！
Gǎn xiè lǎo shī de jiào dǎo!
Thank you for your teaching, teacher!

感谢父母的支持！
Gǎn xiè fù mǔ de zhī chí!
Thank you for your support, parents!

This is also why 辛苦了 (you’ve worked so hard) is said to the graduate — because the graduate’s hard work is seen as a gift to the family.

高考 and Its Cultural Weight

For overseas Chinese families, the 高考 (university entrance exam) is widely known even if children don’t sit it. Understanding it gives context for why graduation from secondary school carries such weight in Chinese culture. The phrase 十年寒窗 (shí nián hán chuāng — ten years of study by a cold window) captures the cultural understanding of the years of effort that lead to this moment.

Graduation Vocabulary for Different Degrees

Degree	Chinese	Pinyin
Kindergarten diploma	幼儿园毕业证	yòu’er yuán bì yè zhèng
Primary school certificate	小学毕业证书	xiǎo xué bì yè zhèng shū
Secondary school diploma	中学毕业证书	zhōng xué bì yè zhèng shū
Bachelor’s degree	学士学位	xué shì xué wèi
Master’s degree	硕士学位	shuò shì xué wèi
Doctorate / PhD	博士学位	bó shì xué wèi
Honour roll	荣誉榜	róng yù bǎng
Valedictorian	毕业生代表	bì yè shēng dài biǎo

Teaching Graduation Vocabulary to Children — 5 Activities

1. Make a Graduation Card in Chinese

Give children a card template. They write a congratulations message to a classmate, teacher, or family member using the phrases from this article. Even very simple:

恭喜毕业！你真棒！祝你鹏程万里！

This builds writing, practises vocabulary, and creates a real cultural artefact.

2. Role-Play the Ceremony

Set up a classroom or living-room ceremony. One child is the principal, one gives the speech, others receive “diplomas.” All communication happens in Chinese:

请[name]上台领取证书。
Qǐng [name] shàng tái lǐng qǔ zhèng shū.
Please [name] come up to receive the certificate.

恭喜！
Gōng xǐ!
Congratulations!

谢谢！
Xièxiè!
Thank you!

3. Graduation Wishes Matching Game

Write the 四字成语 on one set of cards and their meanings in English on another. Children match them. Works well as a classroom warmup or a family game.

4. Write a Speech (演讲)

Older children (10+) can write a short graduation speech in Chinese using a simple structure:

感谢老师 — thank the teachers
感谢同学 — thank the classmates
展望未来 — hopes for the future

Even three sentences per section is enough. Reading it aloud in Chinese is excellent speaking practice.

5. Learn 骊歌

Sing or listen to the graduation song 骊歌 together. Discuss what the words mean. This is particularly meaningful for children attending Chinese community schools — it gives them the language and context for a ceremony they will participate in.

What Your Child Is Really Learning

When children learn graduation vocabulary in Chinese, they are learning far more than a word list. They are learning:

The value of education in Chinese culture — why graduation is such a significant moment
How to express pride and gratitude — 辛苦了, 我为你骄傲, 感谢
Four-character expressions — an entry point into classical Chinese thought and language
Social register — formal ceremony language versus warm family expressions
The arc of a life milestone — how Chinese culture marks endings and new beginnings

This kind of cultural vocabulary does something that a flashcard cannot. It gives children a role in a shared cultural moment.

Product Integration: Speaking Chinese at Milestone Moments

Knowing the vocabulary is step one. The harder step for many overseas parents is actually saying these things out loud — in the moment, naturally, without hesitation.

Our Speak Chinese with Kids course is designed for exactly this: parents who want to use more Chinese in real family moments, but need the phrases, the audio, and the confidence to start. Graduation phrases, praise phrases, encouragement phrases — these are the spoken Chinese that makes your home feel Chinese, not just your bookshelves.

If your child is at the vocabulary-building stage, our Vocabulary Made Easy course covers the 300 most common Chinese words — including the high-frequency characters that appear throughout this article (大, 成, 学, 年, 你, 好, 来, 了, 我, 前, 万).

Free Download: Top 100 Chinese Characters

Many of the characters in graduation phrases — 你, 好, 我, 大, 成, 学, 来, 了, 前, 万 — appear in the Top 100 most-used Chinese characters. Our free printable gives children a starting point for recognising these essential building blocks.

👉 Download the free Top 100 Chinese Characters here

FAQ: Graduation in Chinese

How do you say graduation in Chinese?

毕业 (bì yè). It functions as both a noun and a verb.

What is the best graduation congratulations phrase in Chinese?

恭喜毕业 (gōng xǐ bì yè) is the most straightforward. For something more classical and memorable, 鹏程万里 (péng chéng wàn lǐ — boundless future ahead) is the most beloved graduation wish.

What does 鹏程万里 mean?

Literally “the Peng bird’s journey of ten thousand li.” The Peng (鹏) is a mythical giant bird from the classical text Zhuangzi, which flies so high and far that nothing can stop it. The phrase means: your future is limitless and magnificent.

What do you say to a child graduating from kindergarten in Chinese?

恭喜宝宝幼儿园毕业了！(Congratulations on graduating from kindergarten!) and 你长大了！(You’ve grown up!) are both natural and warm.

What is 骊歌?

骊歌 (lí gē) is the traditional Chinese graduation song — a farewell song sung at the end of school. It is set to the tune of Auld Lang Syne with Chinese lyrics about leaving school, gratitude, and hopes for the future. It is widely used in Taiwan and overseas Chinese communities.

What does 辛苦了 mean at graduation?

辛苦了 (xīn kǔ le) means “you’ve worked so hard.” It acknowledges the years of effort behind the achievement. Saying it to a graduate is deeply meaningful in Chinese culture — it recognises the whole journey, not just the result.

How is graduation different in Chinese culture?

Graduation in Chinese culture carries significant weight because of the deep cultural value placed on education. The 高考 university entrance exam is one of the most important life events. Even at younger levels, graduation ceremonies are formal, photographic occasions with strong emphasis on gratitude to teachers and parents.