subject · department

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 科 has 9 strokes and helps distinguish subjects or fields of study.
• Basic usage: 科目 is read かもく, and 理科 is read りか.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Subjects in general and a specific subject
  • 好きな科目 means a favorite subject.
  • 理科の授業 means a science class.
  • 科目 is the general word for a subject, whereas 理科 names science as one particular subject.