辅修
fǔxiū
In Chinese, 'college minor' is expressed as 辅修 (fǔxiū).
The term 辅修 can function as both a noun, meaning 'a minor' and a verb, meaning 'to minor in a subject'.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 辅 (fǔ), meaning 'to assist' or 'supplementary' and 修 (xiū), meaning 'to study' or 'to cultivate'.
Which one should you use?
While 辅修 refers to a minor, the term 专业 (zhuānyè) refers to one's primary major.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'a minor in [subject]', you can use the form 辅修专业 (fǔxiū zhuānyè), where 专业 means 'major' or 'specialty'.
How do you pronounce it?
fǔxiū
Did you know?
- The word 修 (xiū) used in 辅修 is the same character used to describe 'cultivating' one's moral character or 'repairing' a broken object. This suggests that studying a subject is viewed as a form of personal refinement.
- The character 辅 (fǔ) in 辅修 also appears in the word for 'counselor' or 'assistant', treating the secondary subject as a supportive partner to the primary major.
- The distinction between a major and a minor is built into the very logic of the words: the major is 主修, using the character for 'master' or 'primary', while the minor is 辅修, using the character for 'assistant'.
Examples in context
- 我在大学主修心理学，辅修计算机科学。I'm majoring in psychology and minoring in computer science at university.
- 我在大学副修音乐。I'm minoring in music at university.
- 他辅修学科有电影制作。He minors in film production.
- 我的辅修专业是心理学。Wǒ de fǔxiū zhuānyè shì xīnlǐxué.My minor is psychology.
- 你想辅修一门外语吗？Nǐ xiǎng fǔxiū yī mén wàiyǔ ma?Do you want to minor in a foreign language?
- 他打算辅修计算机科学。Tā dǎsuàn fǔxiū jìsuànjī kēxué.He plans to minor in computer science.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing their academic plans on campus.
- 志强 Zhiqiang梓涵，你的专业是什么？Zǐhán, nǐ de zhuānyè shì shénme?Zihan, what is your major?
- 梓涵 Zihan我主修数学，辅修艺术。Wǒ zhǔxiū shùxué, fǔxiū yìshù.I'm majoring in math and minoring in art.
- 志强 Zhiqiang这个组合很有意思。Zhège zǔhé hěn yǒuyìsi.That's a very interesting combination.
- 梓涵 Zihan谢谢，志强！Xièxiè, Zhìqiáng!Thanks, Zhiqiang!
