専攻未定
senkou mitei
The English phrase "undeclared major" is translated into Japanese as 専攻未定 (senkou mitei).
専攻未定 describes the status of a college student who has not yet chosen a specific subject to specialize in. It is typically used in formal academic contexts, such as university registration forms, official documents or when describing one's academic status to an interviewer.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 専攻 (senkou), meaning 'major' or 'specialization' and 未定 (mitei), meaning 'undecided' or 'not yet determined'.
Which one should you use?
専攻未定 is the standard term for the status itself, while the phrase まだ専攻を決めていない is an informal way to say that one hasn't yet decided on a major.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the phrase as an adjective to describe a student, you must add the particle の between 専攻未定 and the noun student (学生), forming 専攻未定の学生.
How do you pronounce it?
senkou mitei
Did you know?
- In Japanese universities, the concept of an 'undeclared major' is much less common than in the West because many students enter a specific department or 'faculty' immediately upon enrollment.
- The term 専攻 literally translates to 'exclusive occupation' or 'specialized pursuit', framing a major as a dedicated concentration of one's life activities.
- The character 未 in 未定 specifically means 'not yet', implying that a decision is expected in the future rather than simply being 'undecided'.
Examples in context
- 彼はまだ専攻未定です。Kare wa mada senkou mitei desu.He is still an undeclared major.
- 専攻未定の学生は多いですか？Senkou mitei no gakusei wa ooi desu ka?Are there many undeclared major students?
- 私は今のところ専攻未定です。Watashi wa ima no tokoro senkou mitei desu.For now, I am an undeclared major.
Example conversation
Two university students are talking about their academic paths in a cafe.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵さんは、もう何を学ぶか決めた？Himari-san wa, mou nani o manabu ka kimeta?Himari, have you decided what you're going to study yet?
- 陽葵 Himariううん、今はまだ専攻未定だよ。Uun, ima wa mada senkou mitei da yo.No, I'm still an undeclared major right now.
- 陽太 Yota僕も専攻未定だから、悩むよね。Boku mo senkou mitei da kara, nayamu yo ne.I'm an undeclared major too, so it's tough to decide.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太くんと一緒に考えよう！Youta-kun to issho ni kangaeyou!Let's think about it together, Youta!
