まめ

ま

め

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person who works steadily and reliably, often with a sense of earnestness and attention to detail. Common in everyday speech.

彼かれはまめに日にっ記きをつけている。

He diligently keeps a diary.

まめな人ひとは信しん頼らいされる。

A hardworking person is trusted.

2

na-adjective

healthy; well; fit

usually written using kana alonedated term

Dated usage for being in good physical condition. In modern Japanese, 元気 or 健康 is more common.

おかげさまで、まめにしております。
Thankfully, I am in good health. (archaic phrasing)

3

na-adjective

faithful; honest; sincere

usually written using kana alonedated term

Dated usage for being loyal or sincere. Today, 忠実 (ちゅうじつ) or 誠実 is normally used for this meaning.

彼かれは主しゅ君くんにまめに仕つかえた。
He served his lord faithfully. (archaic phrasing)

Usage patterns

まめに〈動どう詞し〉to do something diligently/regularly without fail
彼かれはまめに手て紙がみを書かく。
He diligently writes letters on a regular basis.
まめな性せい格かくa diligent, hardworking personality
彼かの女じょはまめな性せい格かくで、いつも部屋へやを片かた付づけている。
She has a diligent personality and always keeps her room tidy.
〈事こと〉をまめにするto keep up with something diligently/regularly
掃そう除じをまめにする。
I clean up diligently on a regular basis.

Kanji

忠loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness
実reality, truth, seed

Related words

勤きん勉べんN1sense 1
勤勉 is a more formal, written term for diligence, while まめ describes steady, everyday hardworking behavior in casual speech.
忠ちゅう実じつN2sense 3
忠実 is the modern word for being faithful or loyal, while まめ used in this sense is old-fashioned and rarely heard today.
誠せい実じつN1sense 3
誠実 means sincere and honest in modern Japanese, while まめ meaning faithful is dated and has largely been replaced by 誠実 or 忠実.
元げん気きN5sense 2
元気 is the standard modern word for being healthy and well, whereas まめ in this sense is an old-fashioned usage.
健けん康こうN4sense 2
健康 is the common modern term for physical health, while まめ meaning healthy is a dated way of saying the same thing.

Opposites

無ぶ精しょう sense 1
不精 describes someone lazy or reluctant to make an effort, the opposite of まめ's diligent, hardworking nature.

Don't confuse with

豆まめN3
豆 (beans) shares the exact same reading as まめ but is an unrelated noun for the food, not the adjective meaning diligent.

Word family

忠実まめやか
sincere; faithful; honest
まめまめしい
diligent; hardworking; conscientious

Written forms

まめUsage49%
Standard modern spelling; usually written in kana.
マメUsage51%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is sometimes used for emphasis or in casual writing.
忠実まめ
Kanji spelling is rare and mostly historical; the word is usually written in kana. This form may be confused with 忠実 read ちゅうじつ.

Etymology

The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 忠実 is an ateji-like assignment for the native Japanese word まめ, but the word itself is of native origin.