man4 fo1文科
Jyutpingman4 fo1
Yalemàhn fō
Definition
Liberal arts; the arts stream, encompassing humanities, arts, and social sciences.
colloquialschool
How it's used
Distinguishing between academic streams is a fundamental part of how people describe their educational background in Hong Kong. It is almost always contrasted with 理科, which covers science and mathematics subjects. While it encompasses humanities and social sciences, it is rarely used to describe specific university majors, which are usually referred to by their department names.
Examples
Did you study the arts stream or the science stream back then?
He studied liberal arts in university and became an editor after graduating.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 文學, which specifically refers to the study of literature. Using 文科 to describe a literature major is technically too broad, as it covers a wide range of social science subjects as well.
Grammar color guide
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
