功课 gōngkè homework
homework; assignment; task; classwork; lesson; study
How to remember 功课: 功 achievement + 课 lesson = homework.
Characters
How it is used
- In mainland speech the everyday word for school homework is 作业 zuòyè; 功课 sounds a touch more formal or old-fashioned and is common in Taiwan usage.
- Its more useful modern sense is figurative: 做功课 zuò gōngkè means "do your research/prep," as in 去之前先做好功课 (qùzhīqián xiān zuòhǎo gōngkè) - research before you go.
- Takes the measure word 门 mén, like a school subject: 一门功课 (yì mén gōngkè).
Example sentences
- 我太累了，做不了功课。 Wǒtàilèi le, zuòbùliǎo gōngkè.I'm too sleepy to do my homework.