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: 我在学习中文和国际法学。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.
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
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