Japanese word

科

Pronunciation

Romajika

Meaning

  • noundepartment

Example

この病院には五つの科があります。ko no byō in ni wa itsu tsu no ka ga a ri ma su

This hospital has five departments.

Illustration for 科 (department)

More examples

この科に入るには、面接を受けます。ko no ka ni hai ru ni wa men setsu o u ke ma su

To enter this department, I will have an interview.

Core concept

Marks a division created to organize learning or work according to a specialized field.

Common phrases

  • 科に入るka ni hai ru

    enter a department

  • 科を決めるka o ki me ru

    decide on a department

Similar words

学科gakka: A department in a school or university for a particular field of study.

Definition in Japanese

専門分野ごとに設けた学問や業務の部門。sen mon bun ya go to ni mō ke ta gaku mon ya gyō mu no bu mon

Word origin

科 (ka, "department") uses the Sino-Japanese reading of a character built from 禾 (ka, "grain") and 斗 (to, "measure"); its original idea is dividing things into measured categories.

Usage tips

  • When 科 (ka) follows the name of a field in an educational institution, it commonly identifies the department responsible for that field.

Word lists with this word