gōngkè: 功课 - Homework, Schoolwork, Lesson, Task

• Keywords: gōngkè, gongke, 功课, Chinese for homework, schoolwork in Chinese, what does gōngkè mean, 功课 vs 作业, Chinese culture, Buddhist practice, life lesson
• Summary: Discover the deep meaning of 功课 (gōngkè), a fundamental Chinese word that goes far beyond simple “homework.” This guide explores how gōngkè represents not only school assignments but also the crucial cultural concepts of diligence, personal preparation, and even spiritual practice. Learn the difference between 功课 (gōngkè) and 作业 (zuòyè) and see how this term is used in everyday life, business, and philosophy to understand the Chinese emphasis on continuous learning and effort.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōngkè
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Homework, schoolwork; a lesson or task that requires effort.
• In a Nutshell: At its simplest, 功课 (gōngkè) is the “homework” a student does after class. But its meaning runs deeper. It embodies the process of reinforcing a lesson through dedicated effort, whether that lesson is from a textbook, a life experience, or a spiritual text. It’s the “work” (功) you put into a “lesson” (课).

• 功 (gōng): This character signifies effort, achievement, merit, or skill. Think of the famous word 功夫 (gōngfu), which is all about skill achieved through hard work and practice. 功 represents the diligent effort required.
• 课 (kè): This character means “lesson,” “class,” or “subject.” You see it in words like 上课 (shàngkè - to attend class) and 中文课 (zhōngwén kè - Chinese class). 课 represents the subject matter to be learned.
• Together, 功课 (gōngkè) literally means “effort for the lesson.” This beautifully captures the idea that it's not just an assignment, but the practice and reinforcement that makes learning stick.

In Chinese culture, education is often seen as the primary path to success and social mobility, and 功课 (gōngkè) is the daily embodiment of this value. The amount and difficulty of homework are significantly greater than in many Western countries, reflecting a belief that relentless practice builds discipline, resilience, and knowledge. A useful comparison is to the American concept of “due diligence.” When an American says, “I need to do my homework before this meeting,” they mean research and preparation. This metaphorical use is also common for 功课. However, the Chinese term carries a heavier cultural weight. It implies a moral and personal responsibility to be thoroughly prepared, a deep-seated value of diligence (努力 - nǔlì). Furthermore, 功课 has a unique spiritual dimension absent in the English word “homework.” In Buddhism and Daoism, 功课 refers to a daily religious practice, such as chanting sutras, meditating, or reciting a mantra. It is the spiritual “work” one does to cultivate the “lesson” of enlightenment. This usage highlights the idea of 功课 as a disciplined, repetitive task done for self-improvement, whether academic or spiritual.

功课 is used in several distinct contexts, ranging from the classroom to the boardroom.

This is the primary meaning. It refers to all the work a student is expected to do outside of class time, including assignments, reviewing notes, and studying for tests.

• “My son has too much homework every day.” (我儿子每天的功课太多了。)

In a professional or serious personal context, “做功课 (zuò gōngkè - to do one's homework)” means to research, prepare, and get fully informed before making a decision.

• “Before buying a house, you must do your homework and understand the market.” (买房以前，你一定要做好功课，了解市场行情。)

This is a more specific usage, often referring to a daily routine of spiritual practice or a profound “life lesson.”

• “The abbot's daily practice (功课) is to meditate for two hours.” (方丈每天的功课就是打坐两个小时。)
• “Learning to forgive him was a difficult lesson (功课) for me.” (学会原谅他，是我人生中一个很难的功课。)

• Example 1:
  • 老师今天布置的功课有点儿多。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī jīntiān bùzhì de gōngkè yǒudiǎnr duō.
  • English: The teacher assigned a bit too much homework today.
  • Analysis: A classic, everyday sentence used by students. `布置 (bùzhì)` is a common verb for “to assign” homework.
• Example 2:
  • 你先把功课做完，然后再看电视。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiān bǎ gōngkè zuò wán, ránhòu zài kàn diànshì.
  • English: You finish your homework first, then you can watch TV.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence from a parent to a child. The `先把…再… (xiān bǎ… zài…)` structure is very common for sequencing actions.
• Example 3:
  • 在投资股票之前，他花了很多时间做功课。
  • Pinyin: Zài tóuzī gǔpiào zhīqián, tā huāle hěn duō shíjiān zuò gōngkè.
  • English: Before investing in stocks, he spent a lot of time doing his homework (research).
  • Analysis: This shows the metaphorical use of 功课 to mean “research” or “due diligence.” `做功课 (zuò gōngkè)` is the set phrase.
• Example 4:
  • 这次失败对我来说是一次深刻的功课。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì shībài duì wǒ lái shuō shì yí cì shēnkè de gōngkè.
  • English: This failure was a profound lesson for me.
  • Analysis: Here, 功课 means a “life lesson,” something that taught you a lot, often through hardship. `深刻 (shēnkè)` means “deep” or “profound.”
• Example 5:
  • 每天早上念经是奶奶的功课。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān zǎoshang niànjīng shì nǎinai de gōngkè.
  • English: Chanting sutras every morning is Grandma's daily practice.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the religious meaning of 功课, referring to a scheduled spiritual discipline.
• Example 6:
  • 我的数学功课总是最难的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de shùxué gōngkè zǒngshì zuì nán de.
  • English: My math homework is always the hardest.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence showing how to specify the subject of the homework.
• Example 7:
  • 我们应该互相帮助，一起复习功课。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi hùxiāng bāngzhù, yìqǐ fùxí gōngkè.
  • English: We should help each other and review our schoolwork together.
  • Analysis: This usage shows 功课 as broader “schoolwork,” including `复习 (fùxí)`, or reviewing.
• Example 8:
  • 别担心，这个项目的功课我都做足了。
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, zhège xiàngmù de gōngkè wǒ dōu zuò zú le.
  • English: Don't worry, I've done all the necessary prep work for this project.
  • Analysis: `做足了 (zuò zú le)` means “done sufficiently” or “done thoroughly,” a common and powerful collocation with 功课 in a business context.
• Example 9:
  • 照顾孩子是一门需要耐心和智慧的功课。
  • Pinyin: Zhàogù háizi shì yī mén xūyào nàixīn hé zhìhuì de gōngkè.
  • English: Taking care of a child is a task/lesson that requires patience and wisdom.
  • Analysis: A philosophical use of 功课, framing a long-term responsibility as a lesson to be learned. `一门 (yī mén)` is a measure word for academic subjects, cleverly used here.
• Example 10:
  • 如果你没做功课，上课就可能听不懂。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ méi zuò gōngkè, shàngkè jiù kěnéng tīng bù dǒng.
  • English: If you don't do your schoolwork (pre-reading/review), you might not understand the class.
  • Analysis: This links the effort of 功课 directly to the result of understanding in class, reinforcing its core meaning.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 功课 (gōngkè) and 作业 (zuòyè).

• 功课 (gōngkè): Broader concept. It's the overall “schoolwork,” including reading, studying, reviewing, and the specific assignments. It emphasizes the process of learning and reinforcement. It also has metaphorical (“life lesson,” “prep work”) and spiritual meanings.
• 作业 (zuòyè): More specific. It almost always refers to a concrete, tangible assignment given by a teacher that must be completed and handed in (e.g., a worksheet, an essay, a set of math problems). It emphasizes the product of your work.

Think of it this way: Your teacher gives you 作业 (zuòyè) as part of your overall 功课 (gōngkè).

• Correct: 老师给了我们很多作业。(The teacher gave us a lot of assignments.)
• Correct: 我今天的功课包括了复习和写一篇作文。(My homework today includes reviewing and writing one essay.)
• Slightly Awkward but Understandable: 老师给了我们很多功课。 (This is often used, but 作业 is more precise for “assignments.”)
• Incorrect: 这次失败对我来说是一次深刻的作业。 (You cannot use 作业 for a life lesson; you must use 功课.)

False Friend Alert: While “homework” is the best translation in a school context, remember that 功课 (gōngkè) is much broader. Using “homework” when a Chinese speaker means “spiritual practice” or “due diligence” can lead to a complete misunderstanding of the situation's gravity and context.

• 作业 (zuòyè) - The specific, physical assignment to be handed in. A component of 功课.
• 学习 (xuéxí) - The general act of studying or learning. You do 功课 to help your 学习.
• 复习 (fùxí) - To review. Reviewing past material is a common type of 功课.
• 预习 (yùxí) - To preview. Studying material before it's taught in class, also a form of 功课.
• 上课 (shàngkè) - To attend class. You typically receive 功课 after you 上课.
• 任务 (rènwù) - A task or mission. More general than 功课 and often used in a work or official context.
• 努力 (nǔlì) - To make an effort; diligent. The attitude required to do 功课 well.
• 教育 (jiàoyù) - Education. The entire system and philosophy in which 功课 plays a vital role.
• 准备 (zhǔnbèi) - To prepare. “做功课” is a more vivid way to say “to prepare thoroughly.”