Translation guide
How to talk about someone's area of expertise, specialty, or field of knowledge in Japanese. The best choice depends on whether you mean a professional field, a personal strong point, or an academic discipline.
Referring to the domain someone works in or is an expert in, such as a doctor's specialty or a researcher's field.
The most direct and common translation. Used for academic or professional specialties.
彼の専門分野は人工知能です。
His area of expertise is artificial intelligence.
専門分野について詳しく説明してください。
Please explain your area of expertise in detail.
A shorter, more casual way to say 'specialty' or 'field'. Often used in conversation.
ご専門は何ですか？
What is your area of expertise?
彼は経済学が専門だ。
His area of expertise is economics.
A more formal term, often used in academic or technical contexts to emphasize a specific domain.
この研究者の専門領域は分子生物学です。
This researcher's area of expertise is molecular biology.
Talking about something someone is particularly good at, not necessarily a formal profession.
Refers to a field one excels in or is confident about. More about personal strength than formal expertise.
私の得意分野は料理です。
My area of expertise is cooking.
彼女の得意分野は交渉です。
Her area of expertise is negotiation.
A shorter, more casual way to say 'strong point'. Often used in daily conversation.
Specifically referring to a scholarly field or major.
Used for one's major or field of study at university.
大学では何を専攻していましたか？
What was your area of expertise in college?
私の専攻は心理学です。
My area of expertise is psychology.
Specifically a research field, used for graduate-level or professional research.
彼の研究分野は量子力学です。
His area of expertise is quantum mechanics.
専門 implies formal training or professional status, while 得意 simply means you are good at something. Use 専門 for doctors, lawyers, academics; use 得意 for hobbies or personal skills.
彼は医者で、専門は心臓外科です。
He is a doctor; his specialty is cardiac surgery.
彼女は料理が得意です。
She is good at cooking.
The phrase 'area of expertise' does not translate word-for-word. Avoid expressions like 専門のエリア or エキスパートの領域, which sound unnatural.
Math is my area of expertise.