What does it mean word for word?
The word 専攻 (senkou) literally means 'major' or 'specialization' in an academic context. The word 日本語 (nihongo) refers to the Japanese language and is composed of 日本 (Nihon, Japan) and 語 (go, language).
Which one should you use?
While 専攻は日本語です is a direct way to state your major, you can also use the more natural verb-based expression 日本語を専攻しています to say "I am majoring in Japanese language." Additionally, you might use 私の専門は日本語です to say "My specialty is Japanese language."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard phrase 専攻は日本語です is polite and suitable for speaking to teachers, peers or strangers due to the use of です (desu) at the end. For a more formal tone, you can say わたしの専攻は日本語です or 私は日本語を専攻しています to express the action of majoring in the language. In an informal setting, such as with close friends, you might say オレの専攻は日本語だよ.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 専攻は日本語です, the particle は (wa) marks the topic of the sentence, which is the speaker's major.
How do you pronounce it?
senkou wa nihongo desu
Did you know?
- The character 専 in 専攻 (senkou) originally depicted a hand holding a tool to spin thread, representing the idea of focusing entirely on one single task.
- In Japanese universities, the word 専攻 (senkou) is often used in a hierarchy where a student first declares a broad 学部 (gakubu) or faculty before specifying their narrow 専攻 (senkou).
- The word 語 (go) in 日本語 functions as a suffix that can be attached to almost any country name to turn it into a language, such as 英語 (eigo) for English or フランス語 (furansugo) for French.
Examples in context
- 「私の名前はサラです。わたしはフリーダ大学で学んでいます。専攻は日本語です。日本文化にも興味がありますので、将来は日本語教師になることを目指しています。」My name is Sarah. I'm studying at Frida University. My major is Japanese language. I'm also interested in Japanese culture, so I aspire to become a Japanese language teacher in the future.
- 「日本語が大好きで、専攻は日本語なんだよ！将来は日本語通訳や翻訳者になりたいな。」I love Japanese, and my major is Japanese language! I want to become a Japanese interpreter or translator in the future.
- 私の専攻は日本語です。Watashi no senkou wa nihongo desu.My major is Japanese language.
- 大学での専攻は日本語です。Daigaku de no senkou wa nihongo desu.My major at university is Japanese language.
- 今の専攻は日本語です。Ima no senkou wa nihongo desu.My current major is Japanese language.
Example conversation
Two students are introducing themselves at a university orientation.
- 蓮 Renこんにちは、蓮です。専攻は何ですか？Konnichiwa, Ren desu. Senkou wa nan desu ka?Hello, I'm Ren. What is your major?
- 結衣 Yui結衣です。私の専攻は日本語です。Yui desu. Watashi no senkou wa nihongo desu.I'm Yui. My major is Japanese language.
- 蓮 Renすごいですね！難しいですか？Sugoi desu ne! Muzukashii desu ka?That's amazing! Is it difficult?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、でもとても楽しいです。Hai, demo totemo tanoshii desu.Yes, but it is very fun.
