Learn Hardcore Chinese: Zài zhōngwén kè shàng, lǎoshī chángcháng ràng wǒmen zìyóu jiāoliú zìjǐ de kànfǎ. - In Chinese class, the teacher often lets us freely exchange our own opinions.

Breakdown of Zài zhōngwén kè shàng, lǎoshī chángcháng ràng wǒmen zìyóu jiāoliú zìjǐ de kànfǎ.

What does 在中文课上 literally mean, and why do we use 上 here? Can I say something else instead, like 在中文课的时候?

在中文课上 literally is “on (the) Chinese class,” but idiomatically it means “in Chinese class / during Chinese class.”

在 … 上 is a common pattern meaning “in the context of / during / in terms of,” e.g.
- 在会议上 = in the meeting
- 在考试上 = in the exam
- 在工作上 = in (one’s) work (in terms of work)

So 在中文课上 = during Chinese class, in the setting of the Chinese lesson.

You can say:

But 在中文课上 is shorter and very common in written and spoken Chinese.

Why is it 中文课, not 中文的课? When do you drop 的 between two nouns?