科 means “subject, department”

か · ka

Also: course, section

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

カ

Taught in grade 2 · 9 strokes

The story

Rice measured by a ladle: knowledge was once as precious as grain, parceled into subjects (科目) and studied with discipline.

Used in 科学 (kagaku, science) and 教科書 (kyoukasho, textbook)

Words with 科

• 教科 (きょうか, kyouka): school subject
• 理科 (りか, rika): science (subject)

More from Mind & Knowledge

• 理 reason
• 字 character
• 文 writing
• 言 say
• 習 learn
• 試 test
• 知 know
• 教 teach
• 考 think
• 記 record
• 答 answer
• 問 question

Learn 科 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.