科 (kē)

branch of study; administrative section; division; field; branch; stag

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 禾 represents the sound and 斗 represents the meaning. Depicts measuring out grain (禾) with a dipper (斗).

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“科,程也。从禾,从斗。斗者,量也。”

Components