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March 24, 2026
專zhuān(zhuan1)
The character 專 (zhuān) conveys the idea of concentration or specialization in a particular area. It is commonly used to describe something that is focused or dedicated, such as a specialized skill or profession, and can also imply monopolization, as in controlling a specific market or resource.
Strokes11Radical寸Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of specialization is highly valued, particularly in professions. The idea of being '專' in one's field is often linked to the Confucian ideal of mastery and lifelong learning.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person with a magnifying glass (專) focusing intently on a tiny detail. The radical 專 resembles the action of concentrating one's gaze, while the sound 'zhuān' can remind you of 'zone' - a focused area of expertise or attention.
Meanings of 專
zhuān(zhuan1)
1concentrated, specialized; to monopolize
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 專
專Simplified
11Strokes
寸Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 專
Podcast: 專
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AI Study Notes for 專
Quick Contrast
专 (zhuān) vs 特 (tè) — choose 专 when emphasizing specialization or focus in a specific field, while 特 highlights uniqueness or distinctiveness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a magnifying glass (專) focusing intently on a tiny detail. The radical 專 resembles the action of concentrating one's gaze, while the sound 'zhuān' can remind you of 'zone' - a focused area of expertise or attention.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 專 with similar characters like 只 (zhǐ), which means 'only'. 專 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in academic or professional settings. Common collocations include 專業 (zhuānyè - specialty) and 專注 (zhuānzhù - to concentrate). Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it as 'zhuan' can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 專 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other advanced terms related to specialization. Focus on using it in context with other words that indicate focus or expertise, such as 專業 (specialty) and 專心 (to concentrate).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of specialization is highly valued, particularly in professions. The idea of being '專' in one's field is often linked to the Confucian ideal of mastery and lifelong learning.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 專 when meaning 'only', which is incorrect; instead, use 只 (zhǐ). Another mistake is mispronouncing 專 as 'zhuan', losing the correct tone and thus changing the meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 專
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Depicts a hand (寸) spinning a wheel (叀). Based on the original meaning "turn", now written as 轉. The current meaning is a phonetic loan. The simplified character 专 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 專.
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Cultural Notes for 專
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of specialization is highly valued, particularly in professions. The idea of being '專' in one's field is often linked to the Confucian ideal of mastery and lifelong learning.
Word Family of 專
Words Containing This Character20
专家zhuānjiāexpert專家
专业zhuānyèspecialty專業
专门zhuānménspecialist專門
专辑zhuānjíalbum專輯
专zhuānspecial專
专心zhuānxīnto concentrate專心
专用zhuānyòngspecial專用
专利zhuānlìpatent專利
专注zhuānzhùconcentrated專注
专项special專項
专题zhuāntíarticle, report or program etc on a specific topic專題
专栏zhuānlánspecial column專欄
专长zhuānchángspecialty專長
专访special interview專訪
专程zhuānchéngspecifically專程
专科specialized subject專科
专政dictatorship專政
专卖店zhuānmàidiànspecialty store專賣店
专职zhuānzhíspecial duty專職
专柜zhuānguìsales counter dedicated to a certain kind of product (e.g. alcohol)專櫃
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 专家 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 專
Common phrases include 專業 (zhuānyè - specialty) and 專注 (zhuānzhù - to concentrate).
While 專 is more commonly used in formal contexts, it can be used informally to emphasize someone's focus or expertise.
You can think of 'zhuān' as 'zone', helping you recall the idea of a focused area.
