Translation and Meaning of: 科 - ka

The Japanese word 科[か] may seem simple at first glance, but it carries interesting meanings and uses in the Japanese language. If you are studying Japanese or just curious about the language, understanding this word can open doors to a richer vocabulary. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, writing, and how it appears in the everyday lives of Japanese people. Additionally, we will look at practical tips for memorizing it and how it relates to other similar terms.

Meaning and usage of the word 科[か]

The term 科[か] has the main meaning of "department," "section," or "branch of study." It is often used in academic and professional contexts to divide areas of knowledge or specialization. For example, 理科[りか] means "sciences," and 医科[いか] refers to the "medical branch." This word also appears in university course titles, such as 工科[こうか] (engineering).

In addition to the educational environment, 科 can be found in organizations and companies to designate internal divisions. A common example is 総務科 [そうむか], which means "general administration department." It is worth highlighting that, although it has a formal use, this word is not considered rare or obsolete, appearing frequently in documents and professional conversations.

Origin and writing of the kanji 科

The kanji 科 is composed of the radical 禾[のぎへん], which is related to crops and grains, combined with 斗[と], an ancient character that represented a measure of volume. This combination suggests an idea of "classification" or "division," like separating grains into categories. The etymology reinforces the modern sense of the word, which still retains the notion of organizing into distinct groups.

In writing, 科 is considered a N2 level kanji on the JLPT, which means it is intermediate-advanced. It appears in about 150 compound words, according to the Kangorin dictionary, showing its usefulness in Japanese vocabulary. An interesting fact is that, although it has only 9 strokes, its pronunciation can vary depending on the context, with "ka" being the most common reading.

Tips for memorizing and using 科[か]

An effective way to memorize this word is to associate it with terms you already know. For example, those studying Japanese have likely encountered 科学[かがく] (science) or 教科書[きょうかしょ] (textbook). Creating flashcards with these related words can help reinforce the meaning of 科 in your active vocabulary.

Another strategy is to practice with everyday sentences, such as この大学には工科がありますか (Does this university have an engineering department?). The site Suki Nihongo offers real usage examples taken from newspapers and authentic conversations, which are great for understanding the real context of the word. Remember that, although versatile, 科 is more commonly used in formal or technical situations.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 学 (Gaku) - Study, learning
• 学問 (Gakumon) - Acquired knowledge, science
• 学術 (Gakujutsu) - Academic science, academic study
• 学科 (Gakka) - Department of Studies, subject
• 学部 (Gakubu) - College, university (school)
• 学課 (Gakka) - Curriculum, academic course
• 学習 (Gakushū) - Learning process, education
• 学研 (Gakken) - Educational research, academic investigation
• 学園 (Gakuen) - Educational institution, school campus
• 学校 (Gakkō) - School, educational institution

科

Romaji: ka
Kana: か
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: Department; section

Meaning in English: department;section

Definition: A mechanism to explain and systematize phenomena and elements of the natural world, society, etc., using a single concept or theory.

Example Sentences - (科) ka

See below some example sentences:

私は眼科に行く必要があります。

Watashi wa ganka ni iku hitsuyou ga arimasu

I need to go to the ophthalmologist.

I need to go to ophthalmology.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle indicating that the subject of the sentence is "I"
• 眼科 (ganka) - noun that means "ophthalmology"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates destination or location, in this case, "to" or "in"
• 行く (iku) - verb meaning "to go"
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - adjective meaning "necessary"
• が (ga) - particle that marks the subject of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• あります (arimasu) - verb that means "to have," in the sense of "to need"

私は学科の勉強が好きです。

Watashi wa gakka no benkyou ga suki desu

I like to study academic subjects.

I like to study at the department.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 学科 (gakka) - academic discipline
• の (no) - particle indicating possession or relationship between two words, in this case, "of the academic discipline"
• 勉強 (benkyou) - noun that means "study" or "learning"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "study"
• 好き (suki) - Adjective meaning "to like" or "to appreciate".
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence, in this case, "I like to study academic subjects"

私は大学で様々な科目を勉強しました。

Watashi wa daigaku de samazama na kamoku o benkyou shimashita

I studied several subjects at the university.

I studied several subjects at the university.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 大学 - noun meaning "university"
• で - particle that indicates the location where the action takes place
• 様々な - adjective that means "diverse," "varied"
• 科目 - noun that means "subject", "discipline"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• 勉強しました - verb that means "study" in the past

科学は人類の進歩に不可欠なものです。

Kagaku wa jinrui no shinpo ni fukaketsu na mono desu

Science is indispensable for human progress.

• 科学 (kagaku) - science
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人類 (jinrui) - humanity
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 進歩 (shinpo) - progress
• に (ni) - target particle
• 不可欠 (fukaketsu) - Essential, indispensable
• な (na) - adjectival particle
• もの (mono) - thing
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

自然科学は私の専門分野です。

Shizen kagaku wa watashi no senmon bun'ya desu

Natural science is my specialty.

• 自然科学 - Natural Science
• は - Topic particle
• 私の - my
• 専門分野 - field of specialization
• です - is