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真剣 (しんけん, shinken) Japanese meaning: serious | Kotomora
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つい
て
真しん
剣けん
に
考かんが
え
て
いる
。
He is thinking seriously about his future.
She was listening to the story with a serious expression.
Usage patterns 〈 事こと 〉 を 真しん 剣けん に 考かんが える to think seriously about something
He is seriously thinking about his future.
真しん 剣けん で 斬き る to cut with a real sword
The samurai cut his opponent with a real sword.
〈 事こと 〉 に 真しん 剣けん に 取と り 組く む to tackle something with earnest effort
She is tackling her work with genuine seriousness.
真しん 剣けん な 表ひょう 情じょう a serious expression (on someone's face)
The teacher began explaining with a serious expression.
〈 人ひと 〉 と 真しん 剣けん に 話はな す to talk seriously with someone
I made time to talk seriously with my parents.
Kanji 真 true, reality, Buddhist sect Related words· 9 本気 stresses personal resolve or genuine intent ('for real'), while 真剣 focuses on the earnestness of an effort, attitude, or discussion.
真面目 describes a diligent, sober-minded personality trait, whereas 真剣 describes the intensity or gravity of a specific situation or effort.
熱心 emphasizes enthusiastic dedication or zeal, while 真剣 emphasizes the gravity and focus behind an action.
真剣 stresses a serious, no-nonsense attitude toward something, while 切実 stresses how deeply and personally felt a need or feeling is.
Show 5 more 真剣 describes an earnest, focused attitude (often 真剣に〜する), whereas 本腰 emphasizes the moment of shifting from a casual approach to committed effort.
真剣 describes a person's earnest, focused attitude, while 厳粛 describes the dignified, weighty quality of an atmosphere or occasion.
真剣 highlights a serious, focused attitude toward a task, whereas 一生懸命 emphasizes the sheer amount of effort put in.
真剣 emphasizes serious, focused attitude toward a task, whereas 懸命 emphasizes putting in maximum physical or mental effort.
Opposites· 5 いい加減 describes a careless, halfhearted attitude, the opposite of the focused earnestness of 真剣.
木刀 is a wooden practice sword, in contrast to 真剣, which is an actual steel blade.
真剣 describes doing something seriously and earnestly, the opposite of 適当's careless, halfhearted attitude.
Don't confuse with 深刻 describes a grave or dire situation (like a crisis), while 真剣 describes a person's earnest, focused attitude toward something.
真剣 means 'earnest/serious' in a formal, often emotionally weighty sense, while まじ is a light, casual slang word for the same idea.
Word family serious relationship; dating with marriage in mind
fighting with real swords; real sword fight · serious contest; game played in earnest; all-out effort
bare-handed sword catch; stopping a blade with bare hands
Written forms 真しん 剣けん Usage 97%
Standard kanji spelling for both the 'serious' and 'real sword' senses.
シンケン Usage 2%
しんけん Usage 1%
Etymology From 真 (true) + 剣 (sword). Originally referred to a real sword, then extended metaphorically to mean 'serious' or 'earnest', as in a life-or-death contest with real blades.
真剣 highlights intense focus and seriousness of effort, while 真摯 highlights sincerity and earnestness of attitude, especially toward others.
Show 2 more 真剣 describes serious, earnest effort, the opposite of the light, playful spirit implied by 戯れ.
真剣 describes serious, earnest effort, the opposite attitude to the playful, unserious mood of 巫山戯.