专家

• Pinyin: zhuān jiā
• Hanzi breakdown: 专 = simplified from 專, meaning to concentrate or specialise; 家 = 宀 (roof) + 豕 (pig), originally meaning household, extended to mean master/expert

Meaning

Expert; specialist. A person with deep knowledge or skill in a particular field.

Refers to someone with recognised expertise in a specific domain, whether academic, technical, medical, or otherwise. Can be used formally as a title or informally to praise someone's skill. Often appears in news, academic contexts, and professional settings.

Examples

1. 这位专家在环境保护方面有很多研究。 This expert has done a lot of research in environmental protection.
2. 医院请了一位专家来给病人看病。 The hospital invited a specialist to see the patient.
3. 专家建议我们每天运动半小时。 Experts recommend that we exercise for half an hour every day.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, professional, media

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 他是计算机方面的专家。(He is an expert in computer science.)
• 我们需要请专家来解决这个问题。(We need to invite an expert to solve this problem.)

Don't Say

• 他是吃饭的专家。(Don't use 专家 for trivial everyday skills like eating — it sounds sarcastic; 专家 implies formal, recognised expertise)

Origin & History

专 (specialise, concentrate) + 家 (person suffix, master of). Together: a person who specialises in something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal