一生懸命 (isshoukenmei) Japanese meaning | Kotomora彼は一生懸命勉強して、試験に合格した。
He studied very hard and passed the exam.
I ran as hard as I could, but I missed the bus.
She is a very hardworking person, so she will surely succeed.
Usage patterns
一生懸命に〈動詞〉to do something with all one's might
She studied as hard as she could for the exam.
一生懸命な〈人〉a person who always tries their hardest
He's the kind of person who gives his all at everything he does.
一生懸命に生きるto live one's life to the fullest, giving it one's all
My grandmother has always lived her life giving everything she has.
精
一
杯
N2
一生懸命 conveys earnest, almost desperate effort as if one's life depended on it, whereas 精一杯 simply means doing the maximum one is capable of.
一生懸命 stresses effort and hard work toward a goal, whereas 心を込めて stresses sincere, heartfelt feeling in doing something.
一生懸命 stresses giving one's utmost effort toward a goal, whereas せっせと focuses on the repetitive, busy manner of working.
一生懸命 highlights effort and hard work put into a task, whereas ひたすら focuses on undivided, repetitive concentration on one thing.
