Figure Out The Way To Use Both 専門せんもん and 専攻せんこう

“専門せんもん and 専攻せんこう” are clearly different. However, a lot of Japanese leaners have been confusing the way to use them. I know you should be using these words after reading this. Why don’t you use them to native speakers? Let me introduce how you correctly use them today!

専門せんもん(senmon)

Specialty

“専門せんもん” means “Specialty” and which is completely different from “専攻せんこう“. “専門せんもん” is actually used as the word which you specialize in something, however, it is not only your major, unlike “専攻せんこう“. So, that’s why “専門せんもん” is often used as a huge meaning than “専攻せんこう“.

Example

ゆか
それは私わたしの専門せんもんだよ。 (It’s my specialty.) (那是我的专长。) (그건 내 전문이야.) (Đó là chuyên môn của tớ đó.)

たつや
牡蠣料理かきりょうりの専門せんもん店てんに行いかない？ (Why don’t we got to an oyster cuisine specialty restaurant?) (你想去牡蛎专卖店吗？) (굴 요리 전문점에 가지 않을래?) (Cậu có muốn đến nhà hàng chuyên về hàu không?)

ゆか
音楽おんがくの専門せんもん分野ぶんやは何なに？ (What type of music do you specialize in?) (是哪个音乐领域的？) (음악 전문 분야는 뭐야?) (Cậu chuyên về dòng nhạc gì thế?)

たつや
ゆかって料理りょうりの専門せんもん家かだと思おもうよ。 (I think Yuka’s specialized in cooking.) (我认为Yuka是烹饪方面的专家。) (유카는 요리 전문가라고 생각해.) (Tớ nghĩ Yuka là chuyên gia về ẩm thực đấy.)

専攻せんこう(senkou)

Major

“専攻せんこう” means “Major”. When using “専攻せんこう” in daily conversation, that would be only the topic of a university or high school, unlike 専門せんもん. For instance “専攻せんこうは何なんですか？ (What’s your major?)” Additionally, 専攻せんこう is a noun and 専攻せんこうする is a verb.

Example

専攻せんこうは何なんですか？ (What’s your major?) (你的专业是什么？) (전공은 무엇입니까?) (Chuyên ngành của bạn là gì?)

東京大学大学院とうきょうだいがくだいがくいんの学生がくせいで建築学科けんちくがっかを専攻せんこうしています。 (I am a Tokyo University postgraduate student, majoring in architecture.) (我是东京大学研究院的学生，主修建筑学。) (도쿄 대학 대학원 학생으로 건축학을 전공하고 있습니다.) (Tôi đang theo học thạc sĩ chuyên ngành kiến trúc tại Đại học Tokyo.)