専門

• Reading: せんもん
• Romaji: senmon
• Kanji breakdown: 専 (sen) — exclusive, specialty; 門 (mon) — gate, school, field
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.moɴ/

Meaning

Specialty; area of expertise; major field of study. A subject one focuses on professionally or academically.

A noun describing one's specialized field. Often used in self-introductions at universities and workplaces. 専門学校 (senmon gakkou) is a vocational or technical school. 専門家 (senmonka) means expert or specialist.

Examples

1. 私の専門は日本文学です。 My specialty is Japanese literature.
2. 専門的な知識がないと、この仕事は難しい。 Without specialized knowledge, this job is difficult.
3. 彼女は医学の専門家として働いている。 She works as a medical specialist.

Usage Guide

Context: university, career, self-introduction

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 専 (sen, exclusive/specialty) and 門 (mon, gate/school of thought). Literally the gate one devotes oneself to — one's dedicated field.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal