科

Extended meanings: from “measurement”, “standard”, “division, category”, “subject or course” (as in education).

Composition: 禾 (hé – grain) + 斗 (dǒu – measuring cup).

In Shuowen Jiezi (説文解字 shuōwén jiězì): 禾 is treated as semantic (“grain,” representing things to be measured) and 斗 as semantic (“measuring tool”).

Modern philologists (e.g., Zhengzhang Shangfang) argue 禾 may also function phonetically here (Old Chinese ɡoːl, influencing 科 khoːl).

Original meaning: “to measure grain,” “to weigh,” or “to calculate.”

Modern meaning most often relates to academic or official divisions (school subjects and administrative departments):

科目 (과목) – school subject, curriculum item;

醫科 (의과) – medical department;

文科 / 理科 – humanities / sciences in education.

Historically, it also referred to:

- levies or taxes (to “impose an assessment”);

- governmental divisions (departments, bureaus).