幾何学
kikagaku[kʲi̥ka̠ɡa̠kɯ̟]
The Japanese word for geometry is 幾何学 (kikagaku).
幾何学 refers to the branch of mathematics known as geometry.
Meaning: branch of mathematics (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 幾 (approximate/various), 何 (what) and 学 (study/science).
How do you pronounce it?
kikagaku
Did you know?
- The term 幾何学 is a translation of the Greek word 'geometria', but instead of translating 'earth-measurement' literally, Japanese scholars used an existing phrase meaning 'how much'.
- While 幾何学 refers to the academic field, the word 図形 (zukei) is more common when referring to the actual shapes and figures studied in geometry.
- In Japanese, 幾何学 is often shortened to 幾何 (kika) in technical contexts, but using this shorthand in casual conversation can make a speaker sound like a mathematician.
Examples in context
- 幾何学はとても面白い分野です。kikagaku wa totemo omoshiroi bunya desu.Geometry is a very interesting field.
- 彼は幾何学を専門にしています。kare wa kikagaku o senmon ni shite imasu.He specializes in geometry.
- 大学で幾何学を学びたいです。daigaku de kikagaku o manabitai desu.I want to study geometry at university.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking about their favorite school subjects.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵は数学の中で何が好き？Himari wa suugaku no naka de nani ga suki?Himari, what do you like in mathematics?
- 陽葵 Himari私は幾何学が一番好きだよ。Watashi wa kikagaku ga ichiban suki da yo.I like geometry the most.
- 健太 Kenta図形を考えるのは面白いよね。Zukei o kangaeru no wa omoshiroi yo ne.Thinking about figures is interesting, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、パズルみたいで楽しいよ。Un, pazuru mitai de tanoshii yo.Yeah, it's fun because it's like a puzzle.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “geometry” translations and entries 幾何学, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
