功课 (gōng kè) literally combines 功 (gōng), meaning 'effort' or 'achievement', and 课 (kè), meaning 'lesson' or 'class'. Together, it refers to academic tasks assigned to students — most commonly 'homework', but also more broadly 'schoolwork' including assignments, studying, and preparation for class. It emphasizes the effort required to complete formal learning activities.

The term is used primarily in educational contexts across all levels, from elementary school to university. While often synonymous with 'homework', 功课 can also refer to coursework as a whole — for example, a student might say their 功课 is heavy this week, meaning their overall academic workload is demanding. It’s neutral in register and appropriate in both spoken and written Chinese, though less common in formal academic writing than terms like 作业 (zuòyè) for specific assignments.