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最善 (さいぜん, saizen) Japanese meaning: the very best | Kotomora

最さい善ぜん

さ

い

ぜ

ん

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

the very best; utmost

Refers to the best possible option, effort, or outcome. Often used in formal contexts and set phrases like 最善を尽くす (do one's best).

最さい善ぜんの方ほう法ほうを考かんがえましょう。

Let's think of the best possible method.

彼かれはいつも最さい善ぜんを尽つくしている。

He always does his utmost.

Usage patterns

最さい善ぜんの方ほう法ほうthe best method/way (to do something)
この問もん題だいを解かい決けつする最さい善ぜんの方ほう法ほうを考かんがえましょう。
Let's think about the best way to solve this problem.
最さい善ぜんの結けっ果かthe best possible outcome
みんなで努ど力りょくすれば、最さい善ぜんの結けっ果かが得えられるはずだ。
If everyone makes an effort, we should get the best possible result.
最さい善ぜんを選えらぶto choose the best option
いくつかの案あんの中なかから最さい善ぜんを選えらぶことにした。
We decided to choose the best option among several proposals.

Expressions

最さい善ぜんの措そ置ちbest practice; best course of action
最さい善ぜんを尽つくすdo one's best; do something to the best of one's ability
正しょう直じきは最さい善ぜんの策さくhonesty is the best policy

Kanji

最utmost, most, extreme
善virtuous, good, goodness

Related words· 6

最さい良りょうN3
最良 describes an ideal quality or condition (最良の状態), while 最善 focuses on the best possible course of action or effort (最善を尽くす).
最さい高こうN3
最高 is a casual, broad word for 'the best' used for experiences or quality, while 最善 is a more formal term for the optimal choice or effort one can make.
最さい適てきN2
最善 often implies the best effort one can make under the circumstances, whereas 最適 is a more objective judgment of suitability.
精せい一いっ杯ぱいN2
最善 is a more formal word for the best possible course of action or result, while 精一杯 focuses on the personal effort exerted rather than the outcome.

Show 2 more

得とく策さく
最善 refers broadly to the best possible option or effort, whereas 得策 specifically evaluates a plan as strategically advantageous.
ベストN1
最善 is a more formal, literary word for 'the best (course of action)', often in 最善を尽くす, while ベスト is the casual loanword equivalent.

Opposites

最さい悪あくN3
最悪 means 'the worst', the direct opposite of 最善, which means 'the very best'.

Don't confuse with

最さい前ぜん
最前, pronounced the same as 最善, means 'the front' or 'just now' and has no relation to the idea of 'the best' expressed by 最善.

Etymology

Compound of 最 (most) and 善 (good, virtue). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning 'the best'.