How do you say your major in Chinese?

When you begin your journey at a Chinese university, you’ll also choose a major: an area of study that you will focus on for the duration of your studies. You’ll also be asked by many curious Chinese teachers and classmates…What is your major?

  • 专业 zhuānyè: Major
  • 你是什么专业的?Nǐ shì shénme zhuānyè de? What is your major?
  • Or…你学习什么?Nǐ xuéxí shénme? What are you studying?

China Admissions can help you find the perfect major for you at a Chinese university. Learn more about applying here!

How do you say the name of your major and study subject in Chinese? Here are some sample sentences to discuss your major in Chinese, and a complete list of majors in Mandarin Chinese. Happy learning!

Sample Sentences and Grammar

  • 我的专业是… Wǒ de zhuānyè shì… My major is…
  • 我在学习… Wǒ zài xuéxí… I am currently studying…
  • 我要学习…Wǒ yào xuéxí… I want to study…

Here’s a sample sentence: 我在学习中文国际法学。Wǒ zài xuéxí zhōngwén hé guójì fǎxué. I’m currently studying Chinese and International Law.

和 hé means “and.” If you have more than one major, you can use this word to say both your majors in one sentence.

Here’s a more advanced sentence: 我以前学过… Wǒ yǐqián xuéguò… I’ve studied ___ before.

*过 guò is a past-tense particle that goes after the verb in Chinese grammar. It indicates that the action has been done before in the past. So 学过 xuéguò means that the action (studying) has already happened in the past.

我以前学过经济学. Wǒ yǐqián xuéguò jīngjì xué. I’ve studied Economics before.

South University of Science and Technology of China (SUSTC) class

Complete List of University Majors in Mandarin Chinese

Accounting: 会计学 Kuàijì xué

Advertising: 广告学 Guǎnggào xué

Aeronautics/Aviation: 航空学 Hángkōng xué

Agricultural Science: 农学 Nóngxué

Anatomy: 解剖学 Jiěpōu xué

Anthropology: 人类学 Rénlèi xué

Archaeology: 考古学 Kǎogǔ xué

Architecture: 建筑学 Jiànzhú xué

Art: 艺术 Yìshù

Artificial Intelligence: 人工智能 Réngōng zhìnéng or 深度学习 shēndù xuéxí (Deep Learning AI)

Biomedical Engineering: 生物医学工程 Shēngwù yīxué gōngchéng

Biology: 生物 Shēngwù

Business: 商学 Shāngxué

Cantonese: 粤语 Yuèyǔ

Chemistry: 化学 Huàxué

Chemical Engineering: 化学工程 Huàxué gōngchéng

China Studies: 中国学 Zhōngguóxué

Chinese Culture: 中国文化 Zhōngguó wénhuà

Chinese History: 中国历史 Zhōngguó lìshǐ

Chinese Language: 中文 Zhōngwén or 汉语 Hànyǔ

Chinese Medicine: 中医学 Zhōngyī xué

Civil Engineering: 土木工程 Tǔmù gōngchéng

Civil Law: 民法 Mínfǎ

Classical Chinese: 文言文 Wényánwén or 古代汉语 Gǔdài Hànyǔ

Classical Chinese Culture: 国学 Guó xué

Communications/Media: 传播学 Chuánbò xué

Computer Science: 计算机科学 Jìsuànjī kēxué

Corporate Governance: 公司治理 Gōngsī zhìlǐ

Criminal Law: 刑法学 Xíngfǎxué

Culinary Studies: 烹饪研究 Pēngrèn yánjiū

Data Science: 数据科学 Shùjù kēxué

Dentistry: 呀科学 Ya kēxué

Economics: 经济学 Jīngjì xué

Education: 教育学 Jiàoyù xué

Engineering: 工程学 Gōngchéng xué

English: 英语 Yīngyǔ

Environmental Engineering: 环境工程 Huánjìng gōngchéng

Environmental Science: 环保科学 Huánbǎo kēxué

Ethnography: 民族学 Mínzú xué

Fashion Design: 时装设计 Shízhuāng shèjì

Finance: 金融学 Jīnróng xué

Foreign Languages: 外语 Wàiyǔ

Film: 电影学 Diànyǐng xué

Geography: 地理学 Dìlǐ xué

Geology: 地质学 Dìzhí xué

Gender Studies: 性别研究 Xìngbié yánjiū

Graphic Design: 美术编辑 Měishù biānjí or 平面设计 Píngmiàn shèjì

History: 历史 Lìshǐ

Humanities: 人文学 Rén wénxué

Information Technology: 信息技术 Xìnxī jìshù

International Law: 国际法学 Guójì fǎxué

International Trade: 国际贸易 Guójì màoyì

International Relations: 国际关系 Guójì guānxì

Journalism: 新闻学 Xīnwénxué

Labor Economics: 劳动经济学 Láodòng jīngjì xué

Law: 法学 Fǎ xué

Liberal Arts: 文科 Wénkē

Literature: 文学 Wén xué

Logistics: 物流管理 Wùliú guǎnlǐ

Management Studies: 管理学 Guǎnlǐ xué

Marketing: 营销学 Yíngxiāo xué

Math: 数学 Shùxué

Mechanical Engineering: 机械工程 Jīxiè gōngchéng

Media/Communications: 传播学 Chuánbò xué

Medicine/Medical Science: 医学 Yīxué

Music: 音乐 Yīnyuè

Nursing: 护理学 Hùlǐ xué

Optometry: 验光法 Yànguāng fǎ

Pediatrics: 小儿科学 Xiǎo’ér kēxué

Pharmaceutical Science: 药学 Yàoxué

Philosophy: 哲学 Zhéxué

Politics: 政治学 Zhèngzhì xué

Programming: 编程 Biānchéng

Psychology: 心理学 Xīnlǐ xué

Physics: 物理学 Wùlǐ xué

Religious Studies: 宗教学 Zōngjiào xué

Science: 科学 Kēxué

Sociology: 社会学 Shèhuì xué

Software Engineering: 软件工程 Ruǎnjiàn gōngchéng

Space Science/Astronautics: 航天学 Hángtiān xué

Statistics: 统计力学 Tǒngjì lìxué

Surgery: 外科学 Wài kēxué

Technology: 技术 Jìshù

Theology: 神学 Shénxué

Urban Design and Planning: 城市规划与设计 Chéngshì guīhuà yǔ shèjì

Veterinary Science: 兽医学 Shòu yīxué

Women’s Studies: 妇女问题研究 Fùnǚ wèntí yánjiū

Zoology: 动物学 Dòngwù xué

Savannah Billman has a master's degree in Chinese Law and Society at the Yenching Academy of Peking University. She holds a B.A. from NYU Shanghai and has also written for The World of Chinese, TechNode, SupChina, and Sixth Tone.
Savannah Billman
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