Translation guide
How to talk about what someone is especially good at, known for, or specializes in, in Japanese.
Describing something a person is particularly good at, often a skill or subject.
The most common and natural way to say someone's strong point or something they are good at. Used for skills, subjects, or activities.
数学は彼の得意科目です。
Math is his best subject.
料理が得意なんです。
Cooking is my forte.
Polite prefix added to 得意, often used when referring to someone else's specialty respectfully.
お得意の料理を教えてください。
Please teach me your specialty dish.
Literally 'box 18', meaning one's party trick, signature move, or act one is known for. Often used for performances, karaoke songs, or jokes.
あの歌は彼の十八番だ。
That song is his signature piece.
Referring to someone's area of professional expertise or academic specialization.
The standard term for one's field of specialization, major, or professional expertise.
彼の専門は国際法です。
His specialty is international law.
ご専門は何ですか。
What is your field of expertise?
Specifically refers to one's major in university or academic focus.
Talking about a dish a restaurant is known for, or a local food/product specialty.
A famous local product or a restaurant's signature dish. Often used for regional specialties.
ここの名物はカレーうどんです。
The specialty here is curry udon.
この地域の名物を教えてください。
Please tell me about the local specialties of this area.
Means 'pride' and is often used in phrases like 自慢の料理 (a dish one is proud of), implying it's a specialty.
Loanword from English, used in restaurant contexts but less common than 名物.
今日のスペシャリティは何ですか。
What is today's specialty?
得意 (とくい) is used for personal strengths and things you are good at, like hobbies or skills. 専門 (せんもん) is for professional or academic fields of expertise. Saying 料理が専門 implies you are a professional chef, while 料理が得意 just means you are good at cooking.
The English word 'specialty' can be translated in many ways depending on context. Avoid directly translating 'specialty' as 専門 in all cases; for personal skills, use 得意.
大学では経済学を専攻しました。
I majored in economics at university.
This is the chef's specialty dish.