科學 / 科学
fo¹ hok⁶
The English word "science" is translated into Cantonese as 科學 / 科学 (fo¹ hok⁶).
The term refers to the collective discipline of learning acquired through the scientific method.
Meaning: collective discipline of learning acquired through the scientific method (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 科學 / 科学 is composed of 科 (subject/branch) and 學 (study/learning).
How do you pronounce it?
fo¹ hok⁶
Did you know?
- While English uses the Greek root 'logos' for 'knowledge', the Cantonese 科學 / 科学 uses the character 科 / 科 which originally referred to a 'rank' or 'division' in ancient bureaucratic systems.
- The word 科學 / 科学 is a relatively modern term created to translate Western concepts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Cantonese speakers often pair 科學 with the word 幻想 to create 科學幻想, meaning 'science fiction', which literally translates to 'scientific fantasy'.
Examples in context
- 科學有重大進展。Science has made significant advancements.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “science” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
