Translation guide
Expresses dedicating time, effort, or life to a cause, activity, or person. Japanese uses different verbs depending on the nuance: pouring effort into work/study, committing to a cause, or immersing in a hobby.
To put serious effort and time into a job, study, or project.
To throw oneself into an activity with passion and concentration. Commonly used for hobbies, work, or study.
彼は研究に打ち込んでいる。
He is devoting himself to his research.
毎日ピアノの練習に打ち込んでいます。
I devote myself to piano practice every day.
To concentrate exclusively on one thing, often setting aside other activities. Slightly formal.
彼女は小説の執筆に専念している。
She is devoting herself to writing her novel.
To be absorbed in something, often to the point of forgetting surroundings. Stronger immersion than 打ち込む.
彼はゲーム開発に没頭している。
He is devoting himself to game development.
Literally 'pour one's energy into'. Emphasizes sustained effort and dedication.
彼は教育に力を注いでいる。
He devotes himself to education.
Literally 'pour one's heart and blood into'. Very strong, dramatic expression for total dedication.
彼はそのプロジェクトに心血を注いだ。
He devoted himself heart and soul to that project.
To dedicate one's life or career to a higher purpose, such as social work, religion, or art.
To offer or dedicate something precious (life, time, self) to a person, cause, or deity. Often used for lifelong devotion.
彼は生涯を平和運動に捧げた。
He devoted his life to the peace movement.
彼女は子供たちに全てを捧げた。
She devoted herself entirely to her children.
To do everything one can for someone or something; to serve or devote oneself exhaustively. Often used with ～のために.
Literally 'offer one's body/self'. Stronger than 捧げる alone, implying personal sacrifice.
彼は科学の発展に身を捧げた。
He devoted himself to the advancement of science.
To devote one's entire life. Emphasizes lifelong commitment.
彼女は教育に一生を捧げた。
She devoted her whole life to education.
To spend a lot of free time enthusiastically on a hobby or personal pursuit.
To be crazy about or obsessed with a hobby. Casual and common.
彼は最近、写真に熱中している。
He's been devoting himself to photography lately.
Slang for being hooked on or addicted to something fun. Very casual.
最近、ガーデニングにハマってるんだ。
I've been devoting myself to gardening lately.
To be absorbed in a hobby, often with a nuance of being particular about details. Can also mean 'to be elaborate'.
彼は料理に凝っている。
He is devoting himself to cooking (as a hobby).
打ち込む is the most common for passionate dedication to an activity. 専念する implies focusing on one thing exclusively, often temporarily setting aside other tasks. 没頭する suggests deep absorption, sometimes to the point of ignoring surroundings.
夏休みは小説を書くことに専念するつもりだ。
I plan to devote myself to writing a novel during summer vacation.
彼は読書に没頭していて、私に気づかなかった。
He was so absorbed in his book that he didn't notice me.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'devote oneself'. Using 捧げる for casual hobbies sounds overly dramatic. Choose the verb based on the intensity and context.
週末はガーデニングに打ち込んでいます。
I devote my weekends to gardening.
He devoted himself to the company.
彼女は夫に尽くした。
She devoted herself to her husband.