Meaning
专家 refers to a person with specialized knowledge or skills in a particular field. The word combines 专 (specialized, concentrated) and 家 (person, specialist), literally meaning 'a person who specializes.' It is used across all domains—from medicine to technology to sports—to denote someone with recognized expertise.
Usage
专家 is a neutral, respectful term used in both formal and informal contexts. It commonly appears with field-specific nouns (like 医学专家 'medical expert') or in phrases like 专家意见 'expert opinion.' Native speakers use it to show respect for someone's professional knowledge, though it can occasionally be used ironically.
Examples
- 01我们需要咨询一位法律专家。.We need to consult a legal expert.
- 02他是这个领域的专家，有二十多年的经验。, .He is an expert in this field with over twenty years of experience.
Characters
Measure words
- 位一位专家
- 名三名专家
Common collocations
- 医学专家medical expert
- 专家意见expert opinion
- 技术专家technical expert
- 请教专家to consult an expert
Antonyms
Origin
The character 家 originally meant 'house' or 'family' but evolved to mean 'specialist' when combined with other characters, indicating someone who dedicates themselves to a particular field. 专 emphasizes the focused, specialized nature of their knowledge.