専
specialty, exclusive, mainly, solely
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
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.