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March 24, 2026
课(課)kè(ke4)
The character 课 (kè) primarily refers to a subject or course taught in an educational setting, such as a class or lesson. It can also denote classwork or the act of levying a tax in a different context, making it versatile in usage.
Strokes10Radical讠Frequency#1290DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of attending 课 (classes) is integral to the education system, which often emphasizes rote learning and examination preparation from a young age, reflecting cultural values around education.
Memory Tip
Imagine a teacher standing in front of a blackboard, ready to teach a 'class' (课). The character has a 'speech' radical (讠) on the left, suggesting communication, while the right side can remind you of a 'gate' (可) where knowledge is shared.
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AI Study Notes for 课
Quick Contrast
课程 (kèchéng) refers specifically to the curriculum or course structure, while 课 (kè) can refer to an individual class or lesson.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 课 with classes of different levels, like '小学课' (primary school classes) versus '大学课' (university courses). Use it in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful with tones; 'kè' must be pronounced with a falling tone to convey the correct meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As HSK Level 2 vocabulary, 课 connects with other educational terms like 学校 (xuéxiào - school) and 学生 (xuéshēng - student). Focus on using it in phrases related to learning and teaching to reinforce context.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is using the wrong classifier; learners might say '一课' (yī kè) instead of the correct '一堂课' (yī táng kè) when referring to a lesson. Ensure to use appropriate classifiers based on context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 课
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Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 果 represents the sound. Simplified form of 課.
1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
2The sound half果 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspeech
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 课?
Decomposition of 课
IDS Structure⿰讠果
课Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
果guo3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 课?
How to say subject in Chinese
“subject” in Chinese is课kè
The character 课 (kè) primarily refers to a subject or course taught in an educational setting, such as a class or lesson. It can also denote classwork or the act of levying a tax in a different context, making it versatile in usage.
When to use 课
Learners often confuse 课 with classes of different levels, like '小学课' (primary school classes) versus '大学课' (university courses). Use it in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful with tones; 'kè' must be pronounced with a falling tone to convey the correct meaning.
课 or something close to it
课程 (kèchéng) refers specifically to the curriculum or course structure, while 课 (kè) can refer to an individual class or lesson.
What learners get wrong
A frequent error is using the wrong classifier; learners might say '一课' (yī kè) instead of the correct '一堂课' (yī táng kè) when referring to a lesson. Ensure to use appropriate classifiers based on context.
Write 课
课
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Practice writing 课 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 课
课 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
