懸命
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Base na-adjective form. Describes a state of being eager or making strenuous effort. Often used with 『な』 (na) to modify nouns, e.g., 『懸命な努力』 (kenmei na doryoku, 'strenuous effort').
Theme
At a community center, User is a volunteer helping with a local festival, and Yuka is the organizer discussing preparations.
懸命
けんめい
eagerness / strenuous
People & IdentityEmotions & Personality
Memory Hook
Think of someone 'keen' (懸 sounds like 'ken') and 'mei' (命 sounds like 'may') to do their best. 'Keen-may' effort → 懸命 (kenmei, 'eagerness / Strenuous').
Cultural Note
In Japanese culture, being 『懸命』 (kenmei, 'eager / Strenuous') is highly valued in work and study, reflecting diligence and perseverance, often praised in phrases like 『懸命に働く』 (kenmei ni hataraku, 'to work hard').
Forms
Base: 懸命Base na-adjective form. Describes a state of being eager or making strenuous effort. Often used with 『な』 (na) to modify nouns, e.g., 『懸命な努力』 (kenmei na doryoku, 'strenuous effort').
Negative: 懸命ではないAdd 『ではない』 (de wa nai, 'is not') after the base form → 『懸命ではない』 (kenmei de wa nai, 'not eager / Not strenuous').
Past: 懸命だったAdd 『だった』 (datta, past copula) after the base form → 『懸命だった』 (kenmei datta, 'was eager / Was strenuous').
Adverbial: 懸命にAdd 『に』 (ni, adverbial marker) after the base form → 『懸命に』 (kenmei ni, 'eagerly / Strenuously'). Used to modify verbs, e.g., 『懸命に勉強する』 (kenmei ni benkyou suru, 'to study hard').
Comparative: より懸命Comparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective → 『より懸命』 (yori kenmei, 'more eager / More strenuous').
Superlative: 一番懸命Superlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + base adjective → 『一番懸命』 (ichiban kenmei, 'the most eager / The most strenuous').