理科 lǐkē the sciences
the sciences (as opposed to the humanities 文科)
How to remember 理科: 理 reason + 科 classification = the sciences.
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How it is used
- The science track in school (math, physics, chemistry, biology) - 他读理科 (tā dú lǐkē) he's in the science stream.
- Directly contrasts with 文科 (wénkē, the humanities/arts track); Chinese secondary schooling traditionally splits students into these two.
- School and university context; 理科生 (lǐkēshēng) means a science-track student.