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科目 (かもく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
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This semester I have three required courses.
Usage patterns 〈 科か 目もく 〉 を 選せん 択たく する to choose a subject/course
Which subjects will you choose for next semester?
〈 科か 目もく 〉 を 履り 修しゅう する to take/complete a course
Taking this course earns credits required for graduation.
〈 科か 目もく 〉 に 合ごう 格かく する to pass a subject/exam
He passed all of his subjects.
〈 科か 目もく 〉 を 教おし える to teach a subject
She teaches science subjects.
勘かん 定じょう 科か 目もく を 分ぶん 類るい する to classify accounting items
The accountant must correctly classify the account items.
Kanji 科 department, course, section 課 chapter, lesson, section Related words 教科 refers to a defined educational subject area like 国語 or 理科, while 科目 is broader and also covers university courses, exam subjects, and accounting categories.
科目 usually refers to one individual school subject (like math or English), while 学科 can mean a whole course of study or an academic department.
Don't confuse with 授業 means a class or lesson as an actual event of instruction, whereas 科目 refers to the subject or course category itself, not the session.
項目 is a general term for an item or entry in any list, while 科目 is used specifically for classified categories such as school subjects or accounting headings.
Written forms 科か 目もく Usage 98%
Standard high-priority spelling for school subjects, courses, and categorized items such as accounting headings.
課か 目もく Usage 2%
Attested alternative kanji spelling; 科目 is the safer general spelling for learners.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound: 科 refers to a category, department, or course, and 目 to an item or heading. The compound is conventionally used for classified items, including school subjects and accounting headings.
specialized subject; major
specialized subject; special subject
Show 4 more registered subject; course
required subject; compulsory course
exam subject; subjects for an examination
elective subject; elective course