How to say "specialty" in Japanese

• 専門せんもんJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounCovers the sense of a special subject of study or area of expertise: the field a person has trained in or works in, as in asking what someone's specialty is.
• 専業せんぎょうCommon
  nounDenotes a principal occupation, the trade a person mainly lives by, rather than a field of study; for 'specialty' meaning one's area of expertise, this is seldom the word you want.
• お株おかぶCommon
  nounA person's forte or strong point, something an individual is known for doing well, rather than an academic field or a product; often used when someone takes over or encroaches on another's forte.
  １９７０年ねん代だい、日本にっぽんは自動車じどうしゃ産業さんぎょうの分野ぶんやでアメリカのお株かぶを奪うばった。↗

  In the automotive industry of the 1970's, Japan beat the U.S. at its own game.
• 名物めいぶつJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA famous or special product of a place, the local specialty a region or shop is known for; not used for a person's field of study or professional expertise.
  この地方ちほうの名物めいぶつ料理りょうりがありますか。↗

  Do you have any regional dishes?
• 売り物うりものCommon
  nounThe thing a shop or person puts forward as their main attraction or selling point, what they pride themselves on offering; it frames the specialty as something being promoted or sold.

Use 専門 for a field of study or expertise, 専業 for one's principal occupation, 「お株」 for a personal forte, 名物 for a place's famous product, and 「売り物」 for a selling point or main attraction.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 専門せんもんspeciality
• 専業せんぎょうspecial occupation
• お株おかぶone's forte
• 名物めいぶつfamous product
• 専門性せんもんせいspecialization
• アピールポイントstrong point
• 売り物うりものmain attraction