専攻
senkō[sẽ̞ŋko̞ː]
The Japanese word for an academic major is 専攻 (senkō).
専攻 is the common term used to express one's academic major.
Meaning: greater in significance or importance (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of the kanji 専, meaning exclusively or specialized and 攻, meaning to attack or study, which together literally mean 'specialized study'.
How do you pronounce it?
senkō
Did you know?
- Unlike in the US, where students often declare a major upon entry, many Japanese students enter a specific 学部 (gakubu) or 'faculty' and study a broad curriculum with less flexibility to switch majors.
- In casual conversation, Japanese students often use the loanword メジャー (mejā) to describe something 'major' or 'mainstream', but they almost never use it to refer to their university major.
- The character 専 in 専攻 is also found in the word 専業主婦 (sengyō shufu), which refers to a full-time housewife, sharing the meaning of 'exclusive' focus.
Examples in context
- 専攻は何ですか。What's your major?This sentence is useful for asking what someone's major is.Tatoeba #141421 by tommy_san, translation #24685 by CK
- 何を専攻するの？What are you going to major in?This sentence is useful for asking what someone is going to major in.Tatoeba #10327807 by small_snow, translation #9806790 by CK
- 専攻は何でしたか？What was your major?Tatoeba #3051003 by tommy__san, translation #2763460 by sharptoothed
- 私の専攻は経済学です。My major is economics.
- 私の専門は心理学です。My major is psychology.
- それはどんな専攻ですか？What kind of major is that?
- その専攻についてもっと詳しく教えてくださいPlease tell me more about your major.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A student is talking to a classmate about their university studies in a cafe.
- 大翔 Hiroto大学での専攻は何ですか？Daigaku de no senkou wa nan desu ka?What is your major at university?
- 陽葵 Himari私の専攻は経済学です。Watashi no senkou wa keizaigaku desu.My major is economics.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さんの専攻は面白そうですね。Himari-san no senkou wa omoshirosou desu ne.Your major sounds interesting, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とても楽しいです。Hai, totemo tanoshii desu.Yes, it is very fun.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 専攻, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
