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理科 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
理科lǐkēthe sciences (as opposed to the humanities 文科[wen2 ke1])HSK 6, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #20023, Hard
lǐkē(li3ke1)li ke T3
  1. 1the sciences (as opposed to the humanities 文科[wen2 ke1])
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March 24, 2026

理科lǐkē(li3ke1)

理科 refers to the field of study that encompasses the natural and formal sciences, such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry. It contrasts with 文科, which denotes the humanities. Students often choose 理科 to pursue careers in engineering, technology, and scientific research.

Strokes20Frequency#20023DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In China, the distinction between 理科 and 文科 is significant, especially during the college entrance examination (高考), where students must choose their track. This choice often influences their future career options and societal perceptions.

Memory tip

Think of 理 (lǐ) as 'reason' or 'logic,' which are central to science, and 科 (kē) as 'branches' or 'fields' of knowledge. Visualize a tree of knowledge where 理科 represents the sturdy branches of logical reasoning, bearing fruits of scientific discovery.

Meanings of 理科

lǐkē(li3ke1)
1the sciences (as opposed to the humanities 文科[wen2 ke1])
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About 理科

理科Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 理科

Quick Contrast

文科 (wénkē) - Use 理科 when referring specifically to the natural and formal sciences, whereas 文科 pertains to the humanities.

Usage Notes

理科 is typically used in academic contexts, so it's important to use it in formal discussions about education or career paths. A common mistake is confusing it with 文科; ensure you know the difference in contexts. It’s often paired with terms like '学生' (student) or '专业' (major).

HSK Study Tips

While 理科 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to HSK Level 3 words related to education and professions. Students should focus on understanding its usage in academic discussions and how it relates to different fields of study.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 理科 when discussing subjects like literature or history, which belong to 文科. For example, saying '我学理科的文学' (I study literature in the sciences) is incorrect; it should be '我学文科的文学' (I study literature in the humanities).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 理科

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Component characters

理lǐtexture
HSK 611 strokes王
View full entry
科kēbranch of study
HSK 69 strokes禾
View full entry

How to say the sciences (as opposed to the humanities 文科[wen2 ke1]) in Chinese

“the sciences (as opposed to the humanities 文科[wen2 ke1])” in Chinese is理科lǐkē

理科 refers to the field of study that encompasses the natural and formal sciences, such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry. It contrasts with 文科, which denotes the humanities. Students often choose 理科 to pursue careers in engineering, technology, and scientific research.

When to use 理科

理科 is typically used in academic contexts, so it's important to use it in formal discussions about education or career paths. A common mistake is confusing it with 文科; ensure you know the difference in contexts. It’s often paired with terms like '学生' (student) or '专业' (major).

理科 or something close to it

文科 (wénkē) - Use 理科 when referring specifically to the natural and formal sciences, whereas 文科 pertains to the humanities.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 理科 when discussing subjects like literature or history, which belong to 文科. For example, saying '我学理科的文学' (I study literature in the sciences) is incorrect; it should be '我学文科的文学' (I study literature in the humanities).

Write 理科

理
科

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Cultural Notes for 理科

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In many Western countries, the division between sciences and humanities is also present, but the emphasis on choosing between them is less pronounced during early education compared to the Chinese system.

Frequently asked questions about 理科

理科 refers to the sciences, while 文科 encompasses the humanities and social sciences.

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