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Kotomora

専

specialty, exclusive, mainly, solely

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • セン

Kun'yomi

  • もっぱ.ら

Meaning

専 centers on focusing on one thing to the exclusion of others: a specialty, something exclusive, or doing something mainly or solely.

Most common words using 専

21 of 221
  • 専門せんもん
    N5

    speciality; specialty; special subject of study; area of expertise; (one's) field; (one's) major

  • 専用せんよう
    N1

    (one's) exclusive use; private use; personal use

  • 専攻せんこう
    N3

    major subject; special study

  • 専属せんぞく

    exclusive; attached to; specialist

  • 専念せんねん
    N2

    absorption; giving undivided attention; devoting oneself (to)

  • 専業せんぎょう

    special occupation; principal occupation; specialty; monopoly

  • 専務せんむ
    N1

    special duty; being in sole charge of a duty

  • 専らもっぱら
    N1

    wholly; solely; entirely; exclusively; devotedly; fixedly

  • 専任せんにん

    full-time service

  • 専門医せんもんい

    (medical) specialist

  • 専売せんばい

    monopoly; monopolization; exclusive sales rights

  • 専制せんせい
    N2

    despotism; autocracy

  • 専修せんしゅう
    N1

    specialization; specialisation

  • 専従せんじゅう

    working exclusively for; working full-time (for)

  • 専守防衛せんしゅぼうえい

    nonaggressive defense (policy) (defence)

  • 専横せんおう

    arbitrariness; despotism; high-handedness; tyranny

  • 専門家せんもんか
    N2

    specialist; expert; professional; authority; pundit

  • 専門学校せんもんがっこう
    N4

    vocational school; technical school

  • 専門店せんもんてん

    specialist shop; shop specializing in a particular type of product

  • 専門的せんもんてき

    technical; specialist; professional; exclusive

  • 住専じゅうせん

    housing-loan corporation

Explore all words using 専 →

Study

Etymology

専 is the modern simplified form of 專. The older form combines 叀 (a spindle) with 寸 (hand), suggesting the idea of turning or focusing on a single task, which led to meanings of specialty and exclusivity.

Meaning mnemonic

The bottom 寸 looks like a hand, and the top part resembles a focused, single object. Imagine a hand holding a specialized tool, concentrating solely on one task.

Reading mnemonic

For セン, picture a specialist sending a single, exclusive message: send -> セン, and the specialist focuses solely on that task.