功课

• Pinyin: gōng kè
• Hanzi breakdown: 功 = 工 (work) + 力 (strength) — achievement; 课 = 讠(speech) + 果 (fruit) — a lesson or subject

Meaning

Homework; schoolwork; lessons. The academic work assigned to or done by students.

Covers homework assignments and the broader concept of academic study or coursework. Common phrases: 做功课 (do homework), 预习功课 (preview lessons), 复习功课 (review lessons). Can also be used figuratively to mean 'preparation' — 做足功课 (do thorough preparation/research).

Examples

1. 放学后我要先做功课再出去玩。 After school I have to do my homework before going out to play.
2. 老师今天布置了很多功课。 The teacher assigned a lot of homework today.
3. 妈妈每天都会检查弟弟的功课。 Mum checks little brother's homework every day.

Usage Guide

Context: school, study, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你的功课做完了吗？(Have you finished your homework?)
• 我需要先复习功课再考试。(I need to review my lessons before the exam.)

Don't Say

• 老板给了我很多功课。(Don't use 功课 for work tasks — it refers to schoolwork. Say 老板给了我很多工作 or 很多任务.)

Origin & History

Compound of 功 (effort/achievement) and 课 (lesson/class). Together they refer to the effort put into lessons — schoolwork.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal