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根気 (こんき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
patience ; perseverance ; tenacity
The mental stamina to keep doing something tedious or difficult over a long period without giving up. Often used in phrases like 根気がある (to have patience) or 根気よく (patiently, persistently).
This task requires perseverance.
Kanji 根 root, radical, head (pimple) Similar words 忍にん 耐たい 忍耐 is more about enduring hardship or suffering without complaint, while 根気 emphasizes the sustained mental effort to continue a task.
我が 慢まん 我慢 is about tolerating an unpleasant situation or suppressing one's desires, whereas 根気 is about persistent effort toward a goal.
Etymology Compound of 根 (root, source, stamina) and 気 (spirit, mind). The combination suggests a deep-seated mental energy or staying power.
