physical science; natural science
Broad term for the natural sciences, especially physics, chemistry, biology, and earth sciences. Often contrasted with 文学 (humanities).
He majored in science at university.
He is majoring in physics in the Faculty of Science.
理学と工学の違いは何ですか。
What is the difference between science and engineering?
Obsolete term for physics; modern Japanese uses 物理学.
See also: 物理学
明治初期には「理学」が物理学を指すこともあった。
In the early Meiji period, 理学 sometimes referred to physics.
Obsolete term for philosophy; modern Japanese uses 哲学.
See also: 哲学
江戸時代の文献では「理学」が哲学の意味で使われることがある。
In Edo-period texts, 理学 is sometimes used to mean philosophy.
Specifically refers to the Song-Ming school of neo-Confucianism (宋明理学). A historical philosophical term.
See also: 宋明理学
宋明理学は朱子学と陽明学を含む。
Song-Ming neo-Confucianism includes Zhu Xi's teachings and Wang Yangming's teachings.
She earned a degree in science.
物理学 is the modern standard word for 'physics', whereas 理学 was used for this meaning in older Japanese but is now obsolete in that sense.
哲学 is the modern standard word for 'philosophy', while 理学 carried this meaning historically but is now considered obsolete for it.
理学 refers broadly to the natural sciences as a field of study, while 理学部 is the specific university faculty devoted to those fields.
理学 refers specifically to pure science (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.), while 理工 covers both science and engineering together.
physiology
faculty of science; school of science; college of science
psychology
physics
geography
neo-Confucianism (esp. Song dynasty)
hydraulics
jurisprudence; philosophy of law
From 理 (principle, reason) + 学 (study, learning). Originally a broad term for the study of principles, it was used in various historical contexts to refer to physics, philosophy, and neo-Confucianism. The modern sense is largely restricted to 'natural science' as an academic discipline.
physical; scientific
natural scientist · philosopher
pathology
pharmacology