工学

• Reading: こうがく
• Romaji: kougaku
• Kanji breakdown: 工 (kou) — craft, construction, work; 学 (gaku) — study, learning, science
• Pronunciation: /koː.ɡa.kɯ/

Meaning

Engineering; the branch of science and technology concerned with design, building, and use of machines and structures.

A noun used primarily in academic and professional contexts. 工学 refers to engineering as an academic discipline, often seen in university department names like 工学部 (faculty of engineering). Common compounds include 機械工学 (mechanical engineering) and 電気工学 (electrical engineering).

Examples

1. 兄は大学で工学を専攻している。 My older brother is majoring in engineering at university.
2. 工学部の学生は実験が多くて忙しい。 Engineering students are busy because they have so many experiments.
3. 日本の工学技術は世界的に評価が高い。 Japan's engineering technology is highly regarded worldwide.

Usage Guide

Context: academia, technology, career

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 工 (craft, construction, work) and 学 (study, learning, science). Together they mean the study of craftsmanship and construction, i.e., engineering.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal