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 Show fewer 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.
真剣 highlights intense focus and seriousness of effort, while 真摯 highlights sincerity and earnestness of attitude, especially toward others.
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.
Show 2 more Show fewer 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 .
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.
Report an issue with this page
Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
