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科目 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
科目kēmùsubjectHSK 6, n, rank #19548, Hard
kēmù(ke1mu4) T1
  1. 1subject
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
科目kēmù(ke1mu4)

科目 refers to a specific subject or discipline within an educational context, such as mathematics, science, or literature. It is commonly used in schools and universities to categorize the different areas of study. Understanding this term is essential for discussing academic courses and curricula.

Frequency#19548DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, the educational system emphasizes various subjects (科目) such as Mathematics, Chinese Literature, and English, reflecting a structured curriculum that is standardized across schools. This organization highlights the importance of education in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Think of 科 (ke) as 'science' and 目 (mu) as 'eye', together suggesting 'the eye on subjects'. Imagine a teacher pointing to different subjects in a classroom, guiding students' attention to what they should focus on.

Meanings of 科目

kēmù(ke1mu4)
1subject
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 科目

科目Simplified
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#19548Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 科目

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Podcast: 科目

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AI Study Notes for 科目

Quick Contrast

课程 (kèchéng) - use 科目 when referring to the subject matter itself, while 课程 emphasizes the specific course or class structure.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 科 (ke) as 'science' and 目 (mu) as 'eye', together suggesting 'the eye on subjects'. Imagine a teacher pointing to different subjects in a classroom, guiding students' attention to what they should focus on.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 科目, as it is primarily formal and academic. A common mistake is to confuse it with related terms like 课程 (kèchéng, course), which refers to the entire curriculum rather than a single subject. Also, remember to use the correct tones: 科 (ke1) and 目 (mu4).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 科目 is important for learners at an advanced level, particularly in academic discussions. It's useful to connect this term with others related to education, such as 学科 (xué kē, branch of study) and 课程 (kèchéng, course). Focus on using it in sentences that describe your studies or teaching.

Cultural Note

In China, the educational system emphasizes various subjects (科目) such as Mathematics, Chinese Literature, and English, reflecting a structured curriculum that is standardized across schools. This organization highlights the importance of education in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 科目 with 课程, mistakenly saying '我有三个课程' (Wǒ yǒu sān gè kèchéng) when referring to subjects. The correct term for subjects is 科目, so it should be '我有三个科目'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 科目

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Component Characters

branch of study
HSK 69 strokes
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eye
HSK 15 strokes
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Write 科目

Practice writing 科目 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 科目

科目 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

在所有____中,数学的难度尤为突出。

Among all subjects, the difficulty of mathematics is especially prominent.

Example Sentences for 科目 (2)

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1
这次考查分两个部分,包括下列科目.

zhè cì kǎo chá fēn liǎng gè bù fēn, , bāo kuò xià liè kē.

This examination is divided into two parts and covers the following subjects.
2
所谓选修科目也只是在某一项目范围内略有拣选余地而已.

suǒ wèi xuǎn xiū kē mù yě zhī shì zài mǒu yī xiàng mù fàn wéi nèi lüè yǒu jiǎn xuǎn yú dì ér yǐ.

The so - called electives mean only some little option within the scope of a certain item.

Cultural Notes for 科目

🏮Cultural insight

In China, the educational system emphasizes various subjects (科目) such as Mathematics, Chinese Literature, and English, reflecting a structured curriculum that is standardized across schools. This organization highlights the importance of education in Chinese culture.

Frequently Asked Questions about 科目

You can say '我这个学期有三个科目' (Wǒ zhège xuéqī yǒu sān gè kēmù).