zhuānjí: 专辑 - Album, Special Collection

• Keywords: 专辑, zhuānjí, Chinese word for album, C-pop, Chinese music, Mandopop, music album in Chinese, special collection, release an album in Chinese, Jay Chou album
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 专辑 (zhuānjí), which means “album” or “special collection.” While most commonly used for a music album in the context of C-pop or Mandopop, 专辑 (zhuānjí) can also refer to a special collection of photos, stamps, or even a series of reports. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural significance in the modern Chinese music scene, and provides numerous practical examples to help you discuss your favorite artists and their work in authentic Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhuān jí
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A collection of songs released as a single item (an album); a special collection of items like photos, stamps, or articles.
• In a Nutshell: 专辑 (zhuānjí) is the go-to word for “album” in Chinese. Think of it as a dedicated, curated collection of creative work. While its heart is in the music industry, its meaning is flexible enough to describe other themed compilations, making it a versatile and important vocabulary word.

• 专 (zhuān): This character means “special,” “dedicated,” or “concentrated.” It's the same character found in a word like `专家 (zhuānjiā)`, meaning “expert” or “specialist.”
• 辑 (jí): This character means “to gather,” “to compile,” or “to edit.” You can see it in the word `编辑 (biānjí)`, which means “to edit.”
• Together, 专辑 (zhuānjí) literally means a “special compilation” or a “dedicated collection.” This beautifully captures the idea of an artist gathering their songs or a collector gathering their stamps into a single, focused work.

In modern China, 专辑 (zhuānjí) is deeply connected to the vibrant music industry, particularly Mandopop (C-pop). The release of a new 专辑 by a popular singer is a major cultural event, driving massive online discussions, fan campaigns, and intense competition on music charts. While the concept of a music album is universal, the fan culture surrounding it in China can be particularly passionate. Fans often organize to mass-purchase digital copies of an 专辑 to help their favorite artist “打榜” (dǎbǎng) — boost their rankings on music charts. This collective action is seen as a direct measure of a star's influence and popularity. Compared to the Western concept, the term 专辑 is very similar in its primary musical meaning. However, its use can be slightly broader. While an American might say “photo album,” the more common Chinese term is `相册 (xiàngcè)`. Using 专辑 for photos, as in `摄影专辑 (shèyǐng zhuānjí)`, implies a more professional, artistic, or thematically curated collection, like a photographer's portfolio, rather than a casual family photo book. This reflects a subtle emphasis on the “special” and “compiled” nature of the word.

专辑 (zhuānjí) is a high-frequency word used in everyday conversation, social media, and news media.

• In Music Conversation: This is the most common context. You'll use it to talk about your favorite singers, new releases, and music genres. It's used for both digital and physical albums. The most common verb used with it is `出 (chū)` or `发行 (fāxíng)`, meaning “to release” or “to issue.”
  • e.g., `他要出新专辑了。(Tā yào chū xīn zhuānjí le.)` - “He is going to release a new album.”
• For Other Collections: While less common in casual talk, it is correctly used for other curated collections. This usage is slightly more formal.
  • `摄影专辑 (shèyǐng zhuānjí)` - A photography album/portfolio.
  • `邮票专辑 (yóupiào zhuānjí)` - A stamp album/collection.
  • `报道专辑 (bàodào zhuānjí)` - A special collection of news reports.
• Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations without issue.

• Example 1:
  • 周杰伦的最新专辑你听了吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhōu Jiélún de zuìxīn zhuānjí nǐ tīng le ma?
  • English: Have you listened to Jay Chou's latest album?
  • Analysis: A perfect example of a common, casual conversation starter about music.
• Example 2:
  • 这张专辑里的每一首歌都很好听。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhuānjí lǐ de měi yī shǒu gē dōu hěn hǎotīng.
  • English: Every song on this album is great.
  • Analysis: Note the measure word for album is `张 (zhāng)`.
• Example 3:
  • 她凭借第一张专辑就一举成名。
  • Pinyin: Tā píngjiè dì yī zhāng zhuānjí jiù yījǔ chéngmíng.
  • English: She became famous overnight with her debut album.
  • Analysis: `第一张专辑 (dì yī zhāng zhuānjí)` is a set phrase for “debut album” or “first album.”
• Example 4:
  • 我更喜欢买数字专辑，因为很方便。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gèng xǐhuān mǎi shùzì zhuānjí, yīnwèi hěn fāngbiàn.
  • English: I prefer buying digital albums because it's very convenient.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the modern context of digital music consumption.
• Example 5:
  • 这张专辑的销量打破了历史记录。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhuānjí de xiāoliàng dǎpòle lìshǐ jìlù.
  • English: This album's sales broke historical records.
  • Analysis: `销量 (xiāoliàng)` means “sales volume,” a common word paired with 专辑.
• Example 6:
  • 乐队宣布他们明年会发行一张新专辑。
  • Pinyin: Yuèduì xuānbù tāmen míngnián huì fāxíng yī zhāng xīn zhuānjí.
  • English: The band announced they will release a new album next year.
  • Analysis: `发行 (fāxíng)` is a slightly more formal verb for “to release/issue” than `出 (chū)`.
• Example 7:
  • 这位摄影师出版了一本个人专辑，展示了他最好的作品。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi shèyǐngshī chūbǎnle yī běn gèrén zhuānjí, zhǎnshìle tā zuì hǎo de zuòpǐn.
  • English: This photographer published a personal collection (portfolio), showcasing his best work.
  • Analysis: A great example of the non-music usage. Note the measure word is `本 (běn)` because it's in book form.
• Example 8:
  • 他们的专辑封面设计得非常有艺术感。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de zhuānjí fēngmiàn shèjì de fēicháng yǒu yìshù gǎn.
  • English: Their album cover is designed very artistically.
  • Analysis: `封面 (fēngmiàn)` means “cover (of a book, magazine, album).”
• Example 9:
  • 我正在整理我的邮票专辑。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhèngzài zhěnglǐ wǒ de yóupiào zhuānjí.
  • English: I am organizing my stamp collection/album.
  • Analysis: Another clear non-music example, showing its use for hobbyist collections.
• Example 10:
  • 这张专辑的概念是关于城市里的孤独。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhuānjí de gàiniàn shì guānyú chéngshì lǐ de gūdú.
  • English: The concept of this album is about loneliness in the city.
  • Analysis: `概念 (gàiniàn)` or “concept” is often used when discussing the theme of a concept album.

• 专辑 (zhuānjí) vs. 相册 (xiàngcè): This is a key distinction. For your everyday book of family vacation photos, use `相册 (xiàngcè)`. Use 专辑 (zhuānjí), specifically `摄影专辑 (shèyǐng zhuānjí)`, for a professional portfolio or a curated, artistic collection of photos. Using 专辑 for your casual holiday snaps would sound overly grand.
  • Correct: 这是我们的家庭相册。(This is our family photo album.)
  • Incorrect: 这是我们的家庭专辑。 (Sounds too formal and professional.)
• Not just for music: A common mistake for learners is to assume 专辑 *only* means music album. While that is its primary use, remember it can refer to other special collections. Context is key.
• It's a noun: You cannot use 专辑 as a verb. To say “release an album,” you need to add a verb like `出 (chū)` or `发行 (fāxíng)`.
  • Correct: 他明年出新专辑。(He will release a new album next year.)
  • Incorrect: 他明年新专辑。

• 单曲 (dānqū) - Single (song). The opposite of a full album; just one released song.
• 唱片 (chàngpiàn) - Record, disc. An older term often associated with physical media like vinyl records or CDs. 专辑 is more versatile and common today, covering digital releases as well.
• 合集 (héjí) - Compilation, anthology. This usually refers to a collection of works from different artists (e.g., “Best of the 90s”), whereas an 专辑 is typically from a single artist or band.
• 歌曲 (gēqǔ) - Song. The general term for a song; an 专辑 is made up of many 歌曲.
• 发行 (fāxíng) - To issue, to release, to publish. A common verb used with 专辑.
• 歌手 (gēshǒu) - Singer. The person who releases an 专辑.
• 作品集 (zuòpǐnjí) - Portfolio, collection of works. A more formal term, often used for artists, designers, or architects to describe their body of work. It overlaps with the non-music sense of 专辑.
• 相册 (xiàngcè) - Photo album. The common word for a personal, casual collection of photographs.