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Japanese dictionary

How to say "science" in Japanese

かがく · kagaku

"Science" in Japanese is 科学 (kagaku). In school, the subject is called 理科 (rika).

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Ways to say "science" in Japanese

JapaneseWhen to use it
かがく · kagakuScience.
りか · rikaScience (school subject).
かがく · kagakuChemistry (sounds the same as science).

How to use it

Careful: 化学 (chemistry) is also read kagaku. People sometimes say ばけがく for chemistry to avoid confusion.

A scientist is 科学者 (kagakusha).

Example sentences

Kanji in this word

Questions

Why do people say ばけがく?

科学 (science) and 化学 (chemistry) are both read kagaku. Some people read 化学 as ばけがく to tell them apart.

What is 理科?

理科 (rika) is the school subject science, covering physics, chemistry, biology and earth science.

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