科

kē

斗 + 禾

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

kē (noun) branch; field of study

kē (noun) administrative section; division

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 禾 represents the sound and 斗 represents the meaning. Depicts measuring out grain (禾) with a dipper (斗).

About

科 is a phonosemantic compound: the element 禾 (grain) indicates the sound, and 斗 (a dipper for measuring) indicates the meaning, together depicting the measuring of grain. The character originally meant the sorting and grading of grain based on quality. This core idea of classification broadened over time to embrace categories in general, branches of study, administrative divisions, and the modern notion of scientific disciplines.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们学习科学。

Wǒmen xuéxí kēxué.

We study science.

科技改变生活。

Kējì gǎibiàn shēnghuó.

Technology changes life.

数学是一门重要科目。

Shùxué shì yī mén zhòngyào kēmù.

Mathematics is an important subject.

他从事科研工作。

Tā cóngshì kēyán gōngzuò.

He is engaged in scientific research work.

这本书是科普读物。

Zhè běn shū shì kēpú dúwù.

This book is popular science reading material.

她理科成绩很好。

Tā lǐkē chéngjī hěn hǎo.

Her science subject grades are very good.

现代科技发展非常迅速。

Xiàndài kējì fāzhǎn fēicháng xùnsù.

Modern technology develops very rapidly.

科学家们正在进行一项重要的科研项目。

Kēxuéjiāmen zhèngzài jìnxíng yī xiàng zhòngyào de kēyán xiàngmù.

Scientists are currently conducting an important scientific research project.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 斗

Component: 禾

科