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Kotomora

科

department, course, section

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • カ

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • しな

Meaning

科 centers on classification into organized groups: a department, a course of study, or a section within a larger structure.

Most common words using 科

24 of 847
  • 科学かがく
    N4

    science

  • 科か
    N1

    department (of a university or hospital)

  • 外科げか
    N3

    surgery (branch of medicine)

  • 教科書きょうかしょ
    N3

    textbook; coursebook; schoolbook

  • 歯科しか
    N1

    dentistry

  • 学科がっか
    N3

    subject (of study); course of study

  • 科目かもく
    N3

    (school) subject; curriculum; course

  • 内科ないか
    N3

    internal medicine

  • 教科きょうか
    N2

    subject; curriculum

  • 理科りか
    N3

    science (natural sciences and related fields, incl. mathematics, engineering, medicine, etc.)

  • 文科ぶんか
    N1

    humanities and social sciences; liberal arts

  • 眼科がんか
    N1

    ophthalmology

  • 小児科しょうにか
    N2

    pediatrics

  • 産婦人科さんふじんか
    N1

    maternity and gynaecology department (gynecology); department of obstetrics and gynaecology (gynecology)

  • 工科こうか

    engineering course

  • 医科いか

    medical science; medical department

  • 産科さんか

    obstetrics

  • 科するかする

    to inflict; to impose (a fine, etc.)

  • 科学技術庁かがくぎじゅつちょう

    Science and Technology Agency (1956-2001)

  • 科学者かがくしゃ
    N2

    scientist

  • 分科会ぶんかかい

    subcommittee; subworking group; breakout session

  • 歯科医師しかいし

    dentist

  • 社会科しゃかいか

    social studies (school subject)

  • 社会科学しゃかいかがく
    N2

    social science

Explore all words using 科 →

Study

Etymology

科 combines 禾 (grain) and 斗 (a measuring dipper), originally referring to measuring and sorting grain into categories. This idea of sorting extended to classification and departments.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture grain 禾 being measured with a dipper 斗 and sorted into different bins: each bin is a department or section.

Reading mnemonic

For カ, imagine a course catalog where every department is listed under the letter 'Ka': Ka -> カ, like a section labeled 'Ka'.