How to Write 课 (kè) — Meaning “Lesson; class”

Imagine that attending a lesson is like picking fruit: you 'go' (谐音 'go' to 课) to class to gain knowledge, and the fruit (果) represents the useful results of your studies. So, picture a speech bubble (讠) next to a piece of fruit (果) to remind you that lessons help you 'harvest' understanding.

Write the radical 讠 first as two strokes: a dot and a rising line. Then write the right side 果: first the top '日' (four strokes: vertical, horizontal fold, horizontal, horizontal), then the bottom '木' (four strokes: horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling). Common mistakes include making the top '日' too wide or forgetting the horizontal stroke inside the '木'. Keep the left side narrow and the right side balanced.

Although all three share the radical 讠 (speech), their right-side components give different meanings. 课 (kè) has 果 and means 'lesson' or 'class.' 诓 (kuāng) has 匡 and means 'to deceive' or 'to lie.' 诔 (lěi) has 耒 and means 'eulogy' or 'to write a funeral address.' Visually, 课 uses 果 (fruit), 诓 uses 匡 (a box shape), and 诔 uses 耒 (a plow-like character).

课 is very common in school and education settings. You will see it in words like 上课 (shàng kè, to attend class), 课本 (kè běn, textbook), and 功课 (gōng kè, homework). Culturally, saying 上课了 (class is starting) is a daily phrase for students, and 下课 (xià kè) means class is over.

Common words containing 课 include: 上课 (shàng kè) — To attend class; to go to class; 课本 (kè běn) — Textbook; 功课 (gōng kè) — homework / schoolwork.