専攻が何か
senkou ga nanika
The English phrase "what your major is" is expressed in Japanese as 専攻が何か (senkou ga nanika).
The specific subject or field of study a student focuses on in college.
How do you pronounce it?
senkou ga nanika
Did you know?
- The word 専攻 consists of two kanji: 専 meaning 'exclusive' and 攻 meaning 'attack'. Together they literally describe the act of 'attacking' one specific subject of study with total focus.
- Japanese students frequently use the term 文系 'humanities' and 理系 'sciences' as a primary way to define their identity. These categories are so deeply ingrained that they are often used to describe a person's general way of thinking or personality.
- If you are asked about your studies, you might hear the term ゼミ (zemi), derived from the German 'Seminar', which refers to the small-group research circles that are often more central to a student's identity than their formal major.
Examples in context
- あなたの専攻が何か知りたいです。Anata no senkou ga nani ka shiritai desu.I want to know what your major is.
Example conversation
Two students are introducing themselves at a university orientation.
- 大翔 Hirotoはじめまして。専攻が何か聞いてもいいですか？Hajimemashite. Senkō ga nanika kiite mo ii desu ka?Nice to meet you. May I ask what your major is?
- 美咲 Misakiはい。私は心理学を専攻しています。Hai. Watashi wa shinrigaku o senkō shite imasu.Yes. I am majoring in psychology.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうなんですね。面白そうな専攻ですね。Sō nan desu ne. Omoshiro sō na senkō desu ne.I see. That sounds like an interesting major.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。大翔さんは何ですか？Arigatō gozaimasu. Daito-san wa nan desu ka?Thank you. What about you, Daito?
