科技
kējì · HSK 3
technology
🔬 科技 = 科 (science / discipline) + 技 (skill / technique)
科 originally meant a category or branch of study (the 禾 grain radical + 斗 measure = sorting/classifying). 技 is 扌 hand + 支 branch, a hand-skill. Together: the skills branching from science — i.e. technology.
科 — grain 禾 + measure 斗
科 combines 禾 (grain) and 斗 (a dipper/measure), originally depicting the act of measuring or grading grain. From this, it extended to mean classification, category, and branch of study. Today it commonly appears in words for science (科学) and academic disciplines.